Obesity Extends Duration of Influenza A.

• Position: FLU SEASON - Brief article

Obesity, which increases influenza disease severity, also extends by about 1.5 days how long influenza A virus is shed from infected adults compared to nonobese adults, reveals a study from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

The findings implicate chronic inflammation caused by obesity as well as increasing age as reasons for extended viral shedding, which puts others at risk of infection.

The researchers monitored 1,783 people from 320 households during the three flu seasons between 2015-17. Overall, 87 people became ill with influenza A and 58 with influenza B. As defined by body mass, obesity was found in two percent of the people up to age four; nine percent of those ages five to 17, and 43% of those ages 18-92.

Obese adults with two or more symptoms of influenza A took 42% longer to shed the virus than non-obese adults; obese adults with one or no symptoms of influenza A, 104% longer. Obesity was not a risk factor...