Jennie has said to lose weight before the 2nd wave in the winter.

[Hippofrog]

Jennie Harries has advised that overweight people should lose weight to reduce their risk during a 2nd wave in the winter. I’ve lost half a stone recently. Is anyone trying to lose at least a stone before the winter?

I started a diet 2 weeks ago and have lost 6 lbs so far. I was 2 stone overweight. I used to be lovely and slim and I stopped caring about what I looked like in my 40's. I am letting the Scouse side down.

Losing weight is good for your health if you're overweight, that is indisputable.

Losing weight is also largely down to what (and how much) you eat - exercise has far less of a bearing on it. So no point blaming the government for not opening the gyms - that's neither here nor there.

And also why does eating out equate to junk food? It doesn't to me.

@BlueBrian

Jennie Harries has advised that overweight people should lose weight to reduce their risk during a 2nd wave in the winter. But the Tories decide to open the pubs, and offer money off for buying junk food, it's almost as if they want to kill people.

Where did you see/read/hear that the money is off junk food? I think you've misunderstood the scheme, here are the rules to avoid any confusions

www.gov.uk/guidance/register-your-establishment-for-the-eat-out-to-help-out-scheme

Where did you see/read/hear that the money is off junk food? I think you've misunderstood the scheme, here are the rules to avoid any confusions'
I didn't say the discount was only for junk food, try learning to read better.

Loads of the research done on this hasn't actually included any patients who were underweight as a comparison. Might be that she needs to tell people to put ON weight. But we don't know.

Well define overweight.... according to some meta study done a few years ago slightly overweight people with bmi 20-25 actually lived longer than “normal” weight people. Numbers were the same for the normals and people with bmi 30-35. And as far as I understand it the increased risks associated with Covid-19 occur at a bmi over 35.

Sorry - 25-30 is the first span.

BMI is not everything. I carry all my excess weight around my waist. I know I would feel fitter and healthier and breath better if I lost 20 lbs.

@PowerslidePanda Thank you for that, makes for interesting reading.

@BlueBrian

Where did you see/read/hear that the money is off junk food? I think you've misunderstood the scheme, here are the rules to avoid any confusions' I didn't say the discount was only for junk food, try learning to read better.

You're right, you didn't say only junk food but by mentioning it your implication appears to be that the scheme is somehow encouraging obesity or stopping people losing weight. What point are you making?

Whatever you consider to be junk food is available all the time, would someone who usually has a good diet really decide to change to junk food because it's become cheaper for a few days?. Someone who buys it anyway will get a cash saving I suppose some might decide to double their number of meals but they are the the ones who are unlikely to act on Jenny Harris' advice anyway.

The half price scheme is only for 13 days it really isn't going to affect obesity levels

BMI isn't everything.

The issue with Covid19 seems to be more to do with the comorbidities people get alongside obesity. Cardiovascular issues and type 2 diabetes alongside a Covid19 infection could finish you off. Vitamin D deficiency is more likely in people who are obese I was interested to hear recently.

While losing weight can help reduce the likelihood of these things, I do wonder if people should actually be focusing on things like HIIT workouts for T2 diabetes and cholesterol-lowering diets if they have high cholesterol as the main focus of any health kick at the moment.

Weight loss should be a helpful extra alongside a more individually focused health plan imo.

lol - the Tories offering discounted meals out for 12 (?) days during August means that the nation will get so massively obese that we instantly contract CV & drop dead. Those evil BASTARDS with their cunning plots!

When any kind of chief medical officer suggests ensuring adequate levels of vitamin d l, I might vaguely listen.

@Calledyoulastnightfromglasgow

When any kind of chief medical officer suggests ensuring adequate levels of vitamin d l, I might vaguely listen.

If you know that's a good thing to do why not just do it rather than wait for a CMO to tell you?

If people are overweight and get covid19 they are far more likely to be left with far greater health problems if they survive.

being told this information doesn't go down well with some, whilst others take it on board and act upon it

The issue with Vit D is that deficiency is correlated with a wide range of diseases but little causation is shown.

Obesity causes Vit D deficiency, meaning a lot of obese people with comorbidities will be Vit D deficient. This doesn't mean their comorbidities are caused by Vit D deficiency.

This is one of the reasons why the idea that black/brown people are more likely to die from Covid19 due to Vitamin D deficiency is bunkum.

Has anyone seen statistics from the UK government on how many people were vitamin D deficient when they were hospitalised? With so many deaths in the UK and blood being taken on the first day of admission, that data must be available.

@ILoveStickers

I seem to remember that the "overweight" category have the best outcomes for COVID (underrepresented among hospitalisations, and best outcomes in hospital). Normal weight or obese is next best, very obese or underweight do the worst.

But I don't suppose anyone will be telling us to aim for a BMI of 27 to beat coronavirus. Ah well.

I can see it being good for people to focus on their health and fitness though - lots of exercise that's good for the heart and longs, plenty of vitamin rich food, plenty of time outside for vitamin D. I definitely feel motivated to keep myself as well as possible. I'm not sure weight is where I'd focus, personally.

A few years ago there was some research that showed that the overweight category had the best outcomes post surgery too. Followed by normal and slightly obese, then by underweight and very obese.

I think it was suggested that overweight people have the necessary reserves to deal with surgery better.

Here's a good look at vitamin D deficiency in people admitted to hospital with Covid19.

academic.oup.com/jpubhealth/article/doi/10.1093/pubmed/fdaa095/5859581

They come to the conclusion that Vit D deficiency is due to the high level of obese people admitted to hospital, and obesity causes Vitamin D deficiency.

I have put on a stone since lockdown began ironically - if it hadn't happened and I could have kept up my busy work and gym life I doubt it would have happened. But no excuses I need to get my act together

A few calories in reserve helps you get through a period of physical hardship. But not too many, and other indicators would need to be good. I was once told I’d withstood a GA and op v well and that it was unusual to see such a healthy person at my age - yet I am a bit overweight. No booze, fags or drugs though and tons of good food.... and fresh air...

Or perhaps vitamin d deficiency is a factor in causing obesity ? My vitamin d was extremely low, and it makes you so tired, it is easy then to snack on sugar to get energy.

@ivykaty44

This is exactly what I've been trying to tell my Mum as gently and as kindly as possible but she isn't having any of it!

Have lost just over 3 stone since lockdown. Aiming for another 2.5 to take me into just above normal BMI.

(Stealth boast ! Sorry! But I was stunned as I don’t take much care with my diet or exercise - it was more to demonstrate the point about booze etc - medics said it was v unusual to see someone who doesn’t drink or take drugs “nowadays” - which again stunned me!)