Clinical manifestations of COVID-19 differ by age and obesity status.

Background Age and obesity status are associated with severe outcomes among hospitalized individuals with COVID-19. It remains unclear whether age and obesity are risk factors for milder COVID-19 illness. Methods We prospectively enrolled SARS-CoV-2-exposed individuals. Participants recorded symptoms for 28 days and were tested for SARS-CoV-2 by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and serology. Type, number, and duration of symptoms and SARS-CoV-2 laboratory parameters were compared by age and obesity status. Results Of 552 individuals enrolled from June 2020 to January 2021, 470 (85.1%) tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 including 261 (55.5%) adults ≥18 years, 61 (13.0%) adolescents 12-17 years, and 148 (31.5%) children Conclusions Adolescents and adults with OWOB experience more respiratory symptoms from COVID-19 despite similar viral loads. These findings underscore the importance of vaccinating individuals with OWOB.