No old overweight people at today's vaccine clinic

[balzamico]

I volunteer at a local vaccination centre. Today most of the recipients were over 70 having their second dose and it struck me that none of them were overweight.
Some were much fitter and more able than others but they were all slim (there were 300 through so it was a large sample).

My question is: is this the post war generation (most dob were 1940s) or simply that they are the ones that make it to their 70s?

Am slightly alarmed by this observation as dh is and always has been obese

Is it possible that those over 70s with a high BMI have already been called in for their second doses, as they'd have been prioritised for their first one?

Is it because a lot of people become more frail with age, lose appetite and/or could have gone through some health issues before?

Many would eat differently to us now, and most likely smaller portions too, I'd agree with that. I've seen this time and time again amongst the older generation of minecand DH's grandparents.

Look at older photos, even say from the 80s/90s, everyone is looking a lot slimmer than now.

Those who are very obese and / or have complex medical issues may have had their vaccines at home. I know many that have.

Interestingly, when I went for my first jab (I'm 62), all the people there who were much younger than me were very overweight.

No judgement here, just an observation.

It’s coincidental. Obesity is most prevalent in 65-74 year olds in U.K.

My grandmother who would be 90 if still here, was obese from the 60's to early 00's when she was told to lose weight to have an op. Her sisters too all on the large size. They all had a sweet tooth and my Nan always said it was because during the war she didn't have any sweet things so she would always "treat" herself when she could.

She then developed dementia and went from a size 16 to basically a skeleton before she died last year.

Most men my dads age (70s) have massive bellies, and so they are overweight/obese.

I think there are less morbidly obese, but there are certainly obese over 70's.

We’ve just had a year where being over 70 with a high BMI made you very vulnerable, especially if you were in a care home - so your sample may have been more varied pre pandemic? Bit chicken and egg your a analysis, what got there first age, bmi or COVID, a vaccine clinic just before first wave peak would look very different.

The ONS life expectancy calculator is good, if you have a play around there’s a point where the older you get the higher your life expectancy! I haven’t looked into it, but guess that would be lifestyle perhaps.
www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/healthandlifeexpectancies/articles/lifeexpectancycalculator/2019-06-07

You can click through to the data behind it and see how the age you’re expected to reach changes with the year you’re born.

@LemonRoses

It’s coincidental. Obesity is most prevalent in 65-74 year olds in U.K.

To give a broader picture, obesity in the over 75s is lower than those aged 35 - 74.

Being overweight as you get older can have a more significant effect on mobility and other health issues. Those attending to vac hubs are likely to be the “weller” cohort. Others may be going to GP surgeries or having their vaccines at home or in a care home.

Now you have pointed that out I agree. Once you hit 80 there are very few obese people. Visit a care home- no one is fat. I am fat so it has caused me to think. Either the fat 80 year olds are dead or they have slimmed down in old age. Hope it’s the latter....

I never see obese very old people. I don't think manyaege people live to be that old.

There is something in your observation OP. Maybe it’s because people have more free time for self care after retirement, it’s certainly the case for my parents. Also fatty / sugary food is cheaper and cooking requires time (and I’m saying this as someone who loves cooking) so some younger people go for easy options. Also you won’t tell a teen or someone in his twenties that they need lose weight as it’s bad for their confidence whereas GP will definitely raise this without hesitation with someone who’s much older.

@Ugzbugz

I never see obese very old people. I don't think manyaege people live to be that old.

This is such fucking nonsense. Do you honestly think with how many people are obese they all die in their 60s?tgats not that old.

Such judgemental crap. I'm embarrassed for you. Imagine thinking this.

My Mum was always very overweight until her late 60s and now, in her 70s looks much frailer and slim.

It’s purely because of two things, Osteoporosis (so she’s lost loads of bone and “shrunk”) and thyroid medication.
Her diet is still disgusting (packets of biscuits, cream cakes, pies etc) and she doesn’t exercise at all. My Dad is also slim now and this is mainly due to side effects of medication which have left him with a malabsorption issue. His diet is worse than my Mums.

Lots of people I know locally have shrunk as they’ve got older and it’s not always due to a positive lifestyle change. More usually with these people who were big before it’s due to health problems. What I will say is that portion sizes get less as you get older. I’ve heard over and over from
70+ year olds “your stomach shrinks as you get older”, so that’s probably a big factor too.

They would have been the more mobile ones who could get to a hub. Some in that age group would have gone to their surgery or even been vaccinated at home.

@ClarasZoo

Now you have pointed that out I agree. Once you hit 80 there are very few obese people. Visit a care home- no one is fat. I am fat so it has caused me to think. Either the fat 80 year olds are dead or they have slimmed down in old age. Hope it’s the latter....

I’m Indian and almost all of the over 70s I know are overweight or obese and except for a few exceptions still mobile Most wouldn’t be living in a care home or going into a vaccine centre now as families would have pushed them to get the vaccine when it was offered for the over 70s.

My Grandparents on one side were obese. They would be 100+ now, I think. My great grandmother on that side was, too. My uncle and mother were obese at times. I'm not sure about the others in the family, I didn't know them well.

My dad's side of the family were mainly slim- I had one overweight aunt, that side.

Some obese people do live quite long. Cyril smith was huge and lived into his 80s. Gérard depardieu and Robbie Coltrane quite old I think. Miriam margolys?

such judgemental crap

It's true that obesity lowers life expectancy; in men by as much as 20years and women 10years. Added to that, the health issues associated with obesity in 70 year-olds are numerous. As pointed out by a pp, illness and disability caused by obesity may prevent obese people popping into their local vaccination clinic so easily

It would be refreshing to be able to talk candidly about obesity without the finger pointing and "judgemental!" accusations.

@RampantIvy

Interestingly, when I went for my first jab (I'm 62), all the people there who were much younger than me were very overweight.

No judgement here, just an observation.

I went in the over 65's and medical conditions lot

Almost all the younger ones and most of the older ones were very overweight

This is timely.
I observed exactly this at a vax clinic for over 70s ( about 600 citizens ) yesterday.

Wondered whether the fat ones had died off , or if that generation took better care

Gérard depardieu and Robbie Coltrane 70s. Miriam margolyes 80 next month

Smiley
Slimming world claim that smoking, obesity and inactivity each reduce your life expectancy by 6%. I find the different treatment of each category interesting.

Smoker? Here, have free treatment and support to help you quit.
Obese? Limited support depending on your region.

We're encouraged to be more active, but there's not a huge organised campaign about it, as there is smoking.

My Grandma would have been 96 this year but died just before Covid and she was obese from around the age of 30. She lost weight near the end (dementia) but remained obese. Probably half of the people in her care home were obese.

Cyril Smith lived to 82. I guess it's like my grandad smoking til 91. We know it's bad for your health but some people get away with it because of their genes