Accumulating evidence suggests that obesity is a major risk factor for the initiation, progression, and outcomes of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The European Association for the Study of Obesity (EASO), as a scientific and medical society dedicated to the promotion of health and well-being, is greatly concerned about the concomitant obesity and COVID-19 pandemics and their impact on health and society at large. In this perspective, we will address the inherent immunological perturbations and alterations in the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system in patients with obesity and COVID-19, and discuss how these impairments may underlie the increased susceptibility and more detrimental outcomes of COVID-19 in people with obesity. Clearly, this has important implications for preventive measures, vaccination, and future therapeutic strategies to combat COVID-19. Furthermore, we will highlight important knowledge gaps and provide suggestions for future research and recommendations for policy actions. Since many new reports on COVID-19 rapidly appear, the present perspective should be seen as a focus for discussion to drive forward further understanding, research initiatives, and clinical management of COVID-19.

• Klíčová slova
• ACE2, COVID-19, Coronavirus disease 2019, Immune response, Obesity, Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, SARS-CoV-2, Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2,
• MeSH
• angiotensin konvertující enzym MeSH
• Betacoronavirus imunologie   MeSH
• Coronavirus MeSH
• COVID-19 MeSH
• imunokompetence imunologie   MeSH
• imunologická tolerance imunologie   MeSH
• koronavirové infekce imunologie   terapie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• náchylnost k nemoci MeSH
• obezita komplikace   imunologie   MeSH
• pandemie MeSH
• prognóza MeSH
• renin-angiotensin systém fyziologie   MeSH
• rizikové faktory MeSH
• SARS-CoV-2 MeSH
• virová pneumonie imunologie   terapie   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH
• Názvy látek
• angiotensin konvertující enzym MeSH

The World Health Organization declared COVID-19, the infectious disease caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, a pandemic on March 12, 2020. COVID-19 is causing massive health problems and economic suffering around the world. The European Association for the Study of Obesity (EASO) promptly recognised the impact that the outbreak could have on people with obesity. On one side, emerging data suggest that obesity represents a risk factor for a more serious and complicated course of COVID-19 in adults. On the other side, the health emergency caused by the outbreak diverts attention from the prevention and care of non-communicable chronic diseases to communicable diseases. This might be particularly true for obesity, a chronic and relapsing disease frequently neglected and linked to significant bias and stigmatization. The Obesity Management Task Force (OMTF) of EASO contributes in this paper to highlighting the key aspects of these two sides of the coin and suggests some specific actions.

• Klíčová slova
• Barrier to treatment, COVID-19, Obesity, Pandemic, SARS-CoV-2,
• MeSH
• Betacoronavirus * MeSH
• COVID-19 MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• koronavirové infekce epidemiologie   přenos   MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• náchylnost k nemoci MeSH
• obezita komplikace   epidemiologie   MeSH
• pandemie statistika a číselné údaje   MeSH
• příjem pacientů statistika a číselné údaje   MeSH
• rizikové faktory MeSH
• SARS-CoV-2 MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• stupeň závažnosti nemoci MeSH
• Světová zdravotnická organizace MeSH
• vakcinace MeSH
• virová nálož MeSH
• virová pneumonie epidemiologie   přenos   MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH