SynthesisPloS one2025
Excess weight is associated with neurological and neuropsychiatric symptoms in post-COVID-19 condition: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Synthesis in PloS one, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed.
- Cognitive impairment, depression, and fatigue in post-COVID and post-vaccination syndrome: a large-scale cross-sectional study.European archives of psychiatry and clinical neuroscience · 2026Article
- Obesity and Nutritional Vulnerability in long COVID: A Neuroinflammatory and Cognitive Perspective.Current nutrition reports · 2026Review
- Recalling Perceptions, Emotions, Behaviours, and Changes in Weight Status Among University Students After the Pandemic Experience.Nutrients · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
background/purposeExcess weight has been identified as a potential risk factor for post-COVID-19 condition (PCC). This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate whether excess weight is associated with the development or experience of neurological and neuropsychiatric symptoms in PCC.
methodsWe conducted a comprehensive search of eight databases (PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, VHL, Google Scholar, ProQuest, and medRxiv) for studies published up to July 2023. Studies were included if they assessed PCC symptoms in relation to nutritional status, specifically the development of neurological and neuropsychiatric symptoms more than 12 weeks post-infection. The analysis compared exposure and controls groups (excess weight vs. normal weight; obesity vs. non-obesity). Data were synthesized using a random-effects model.
resultsOf the 10,122 abstracts screened, 18 studies (n = 139,091 adults) were included. These studies included 79,050 individuals with excess weight vs 57,926 normal-weight individuals and 30,694 individuals with obesity vs 107,612 non-obese individuals. The presence of excess weight in PCC was significantly associated with persistent depression (RR = 1.21; 95% CI: 1.03-1.42), headache (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), and vertigo (RR = 1.21; 95% CI: 1.04-1.41). Obesity was significantly associated with 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), and vertigo (RR = 1.44; 95% CI: 1.35-1.53).
conclusionsExcess weight, including overweight and obesity, is associated with experiencing neuro-symptoms related to PCC. Individuals with these conditions urgently need enhanced personalized care management in current post-pandemic context.
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