• The primary goal of study was to assess the relationship between obesity and COVID-19 morbidity.

• The study took place in Pisa, Italy and 100 patients from the Cisanello Hospital with COVID-19 pneumonia were assessed.

• Nasopharyngeal swab samples and biochemical analysis were obtained during stay and on admission.

• 29 patients were considered obese and 71 patients were considered without obesity.

• Higher inflammatory markers were found in obese patients as well as a worse pulmonary condition as many, at admission, required higher volumes of oxygen and longer oxygen weaning times. Also, obese cases had positive swabs for a longer period of time and required longer hospital stay as compared to their non-obese counterparts.

• In this study, obesity was not associated with higher mortality rate.

• All in all, obese patients with COVID-19 have a longer hospital stay, longer and more intensive oxygen treatment, and may have increased viral shedding.