This is especially true for diabetics.
Recent research reveals that losing weight can significantly benefit individuals with obesity, particularly those with diabetes, by reducing their risk of severe infections. This is a critical finding given that infections account for up to one-third of hospitalizations among people with diabetes, who are also twice as likely to be hospitalized for infections compared to the general population, with a higher risk of readmission, according to Rhian Hopkins, co-lead author of the study from the University of Exeter Medical School.
Hopkins shared the study’s results at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) annual meeting in Madrid. The research utilized data from the UK Biobank, which tracks health information for nearly 500,000 people in Britain. The study identified approximately 64,000 cases of bacterial infections, such as urinary tract infections and pneumonia, and nearly 15,000 cases of viral infections, including the flu, with the remaining participants having no history of hospitalization for infections.
The analysis found that higher obesity levels were associated with an increased risk of severe infections. Specifically, each 5-point increase in BMI—such as moving from a BMI of 30 to 35—was linked to a 30% higher risk of serious bacterial infections and a 32% higher risk of severe viral infections. These findings apply to all individuals, but are particularly significant for those with diabetes, given their already heightened infection risk.
Hopkins emphasized that infections are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among people with diabetes, and that those hospitalized with severe infections are also at high risk for subsequent hospitalizations. She suggested that healthcare providers should consider discussing weight-loss strategies with patients who have a high BMI and are at risk of severe infections and hospital readmission.
As these findings were presented at a medical conference, they are considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.
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