With the Swine Flu making news around the world, the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention have been examining factors that may make certain individuals more susceptible or at a higher risk of contracting the flu.

Interestingly, obesity appears to be one such risk factor. An article in the Washington Post today discussed a survey which examined Californian’s who had been admitted to hospital because of swine flu. The article suggested that obesity could be a risk factor for serious complications from the flu, similarly to the risk posed by conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and pregnancy.

While results were inconclusive, CDC epidemiologist Anne Schuchat revealed that they were “surprised by the frequency of obesity among the serve cases”. Other risk factors included lung ailments, immune disorders, heart disease, pregnancy and diabetes.