COVID-19 vaccine in Ontario, Manitoba, or Alberta.The three provinces have explicitly listed severe obesity as among the criteria for vaccine eligibility once their respective programs expand.Some other provinces appear to be considering it or including it in combination with other criteria, but many tell Global News obesity will not be among the conditions allowing for next phase eligibility.The Public Health Agency of Canada lists people with severe obesity, or a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or higher, as among those at risk of more severe disease or outcomes from COVID-19.Around the world, numerous studies have shown that people who are obese face a greater risk of severe illness from COVID-19, with one meta-analysis suggesting that.