[Correspondence] How definitions shape obesity-attributable death estimates

Solja T Nyberg and colleagues1 report a consistent dose–response association between adult obesity and severe infections across Finnish cohorts and UK Biobank, and estimate that worldwide 8·6% (95% CI 6·6–11·1) of infection-related deaths in 2018, 15·0% (12·8–17·4) in 2021, and 10·8% (8·6–13·6) in 2023 might be attributable to obesity.

These estimates are important for prevention policy; however, their interpretation depends on modelling choices and assumptions. ...