# Associations between COVID-19 incidence, weight status, and social participation restrictions in the U.S.: evidence from the national population, cross-sectional study

## TL;DR

This study finds that weight status is linked to both higher rates of COVID-19 and social participation restrictions among U.S. adults.

## Contribution

The study reveals a strong association between weight status and both social participation restrictions and COVID-19 infection.

## Key findings

- Weight status was significantly correlated with social participation restrictions.
- Overweight and obese individuals had a stronger association with COVID-19 infection.
- Factors like BMI, race, and income were significantly linked to infection rates.

## Abstract

To explore the associations between coronavirus infection incidence and weight status and social participation restrictions among community-dwelling adults in the United States.

We analyzed data from the 2021 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), which included a representative sample of 29,394 individuals (Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): 3,205) and a weighted total of 252,461,316 individuals (COVID-19: 31,697,404), considering the complex sampling design used in the survey.

Age, race/ethnicity, education level, family income index, body mass index (BMI), and smoking status were significantly associated with COVID-19 infection. Weight status was significantly correlated with social participation restrictions and strongly associated with COVID-19 infection, particularly among individuals who were overweight or obese.

Weight status was shown to be associated not only with social participation restrictions but also with COVID-19 infection among U.S. adults. Understanding the complex interplay between weight status, social participation, and COVID-19 is crucial for developing effective preventive measures and promoting overall well-being in the community population.