A study by the Universities of Cambridge and Edinburgh reveals that COVID-19 vaccine protection declines more rapidly in individuals with severe obesity compared to those with normal weight, indicating a need for more frequent booster doses to sustain immunity. Published in Nature Medicine, this research highlights that people with severe obesity (BMI over 40 kg/m²) have a significantly higher risk—76%—of severe COVID-19 outcomes. It also suggests that after the second vaccine dose, those with severe obesity experience breakthrough infections and hospitalizations sooner than their normal-weight counterparts.
Researchers utilized data from the EAVE II study tracking 3.5 million people in Scotland, assessing hospitalization and mortality rates among vaccinated adults. The study found that six months post-vaccination, individuals with severe obesity had similar antibody levels to those of normal weight, but their antibodies were less effective at neutralizing the virus. While booster doses restored antibody effectiveness, the immunity in the severely obese group waned faster, leading to an urgent need for potential adjusted vaccination strategies. The findings underscore the importance of prioritizing vaccination protocols for populations at greater health risk due to obesity, which poses challenges for global health systems.
