London: Being overweight has emerged as one of the most important risk factors in getting admitted to hospital with severe forms of coronavirus, according to the biggest study of British people with the disease.

The analysis of 15,100 hospitalised patients from across Britain has identified how carrying excess weight increases the likelihood that severe complications will develop from COVID-19, according to a report in the London Telegraph.

The study's author says while the exact reasons for overweight people experiencing more severe symptoms is not clear, it could be a result of greater inflammation in the fatty layers under the skin and around the internal organs. Credit:AP

Scientists from three universities have analysed data obtained from COVID-19 patients to draw up the most comprehensive profile yet of how the virus exploits age, sex and underlying health conditions.

The study, based on statistics and samples obtained from 177 British hospitals, has been analysed by scientists from Edinburgh and Liverpool Universities and Imperial College London and then compared with studies in China, where the coronavirus first emerged.