People in intensive care who are morbidly obese are less likely to survive their illness.

Researchers in New York studied a group of patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) for a variety of causes. They found that those who were morbidly obese were far more likely to die of their illness than those who were less overweight - 23.3 per cent versus 6.1 per cent.

The morbidly obese were also more likely to have to be transferred to a nursing home - 16.6 per cent as opposed to three per cent - rather than be discharged. And they suffered more ICU complications, such as sepsis, line infection and kidney failure. The study shows that morbid obesity can, indeed, be life-threatening when someone has a serious illness.

Source

American College of Chest Physicians Annual Meeting 4th November 2002