PLoS One

Excess weight linked to post-COVID neurological symptoms

May 13, 2025

Study details: This systematic review and meta-analysis investigated the association between excess weight and the development of neurological and neuropsychiatric symptoms in post-COVID-19 condition (PCC). The analysis included 18 studies with a total of 139,091 adults, comparing individuals with excess weight (79,050) and normal weight (57,926), as well as those with obesity (30,694) and non-obesity (107,612). The studies were selected from eight databases and focused on symptoms persisting more than 12 weeks post-infection.

Results: The presence of excess weight was significantly associated with the following:

• Persistent depression (relative risk [RR], 1.21; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03-1.42)
• Headache (odds ratio [OR], 1.23; 95% CI, 1.10-1.37)
• Memory issues (RR, 1.43; 95% CI, 1.24-1.65)
• Sleep disturbance (RR, 1.31; 95% CI, 1.16-1.48)
• Vertigo (RR, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.04-1.41)

Obesity specifically was linked to

• Persistent headache (OR, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.37-1.53)
• Numbness (RR, 1.61; 95% CI, 1.46-1.78)
• Smell disorder (OR, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.11-1.22)
• Taste disorder (OR, 1.22; 95% CI, 1.08-1.38)
• Vertigo (RR, 1.44; 95% CI, 1.35-1.53)

Clinical impact: Excess weight, including overweight and obesity, is associated with an increased risk of experiencing neurological and neuropsychiatric symptoms in PCC. These findings underscore the need for personalized care management for individuals with excess weight in the post-pandemic context to address these long-term complications.

Source:

Ronca DB, et al. (2025, May 7). PLoS One. Excess weight is associated with neurological and neuropsychiatric symptoms in post-COVID-19 condition: A systematic review and meta-analysis. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40333633/