According to the CDC, obesity is not typically one of the medical conditions that places people at a higher risk for the flu. However, of the number of people hospitalized with H1N1 many are considered obese (BMI of 30 – 39.9) or morbidly obese (BMI over 40).
The reason that H1N1 may create more severe problems for this population is that obese or morbidly obese people are at a greater risk of diabetes, heart disease and other underlying health problems.