The impact of obesity on the outcome of severe SARS-CoV-2 ARDS in a high volume ECMO centre: ECMO and corticosteroids support the obesity paradox

•During the pandemic majority of patients with severe ARDS at a high-volume ECMO centre were obese and morbidly obese.•The rates of ECMO were highest among the morbidly obese (BMI˃40).•The obese patients were cannulated on ECMO after a positive PCR test by two days earlier than the non-obese.•The use of ECMO in the obese patients was not associated with worse outcomes – in contrast to the non-obese patients.•ECMO in obese patients together with the use of steroids in the later stage of ARDS may improve survival.