By Vijay Kumar Malesu Reviewed by Susha Cheriyedath, M.Sc. Feb 15 2026 Large international cohort data reveal that excess body fat may increase susceptibility to severe infections and substantially contribute to global infection mortality, underscoring prevention as a major public health priority. Study: Adult obesity and risk of severe infections: a multicohort study with global burden estimates . Image Credit: rangizzz / Shutterstock In a recent study published in  The Lancet , researchers