Former obesity and risk

[GeraldTippett]

I have been obese several times in my life (yo yo dieter plus pregnancies) but am now in the overweight category, about 5 pounds before I hit the normal category.

Does anyone know whether I would still be classed as higher risk for complications from corona? Is the risk higher when you are actually obese or am I still high risk because of the strain my extra weight would have had on my heart in previous years?

Anyone medical or sciency able to offer a view?

In case relevant, I'm 44, never been a smoker, currently actively losing weight and doing HIIT from home

Is it actually proven that obesity equals high risk? The data I saw stated that 70% of deaths in the UK were overweight or obese people. As the general population is around 67% in that category, I don't think 70% is out of line with what you would expect.

Therefore, as you sound otherwise healthy, I wouldn't be overly anxious OP.

Well done on the current weight loss. I read that a BMI or 40 or above would be the vulnerable/sheltered/risky catergory (whatever its called) but that is obviously morbidy obese and a risk at any time. Anything over the normal weight add risks.

Unless you have other health issues- diabetes, blood pressure etc, you'd be the same as the vast majority of British adults who are overweight.

Is it actually proven that obesity equals high risk
Yes

It’s BMI over 40

www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-on-social-distancing-and-for-vulnerable-people/guidance-on-social-distancing-for-everyone-in-the-uk-and-protecting-older-people-and-vulnerable-adults

I’m not sure anyone could answer about past obesity for sure as no one has researched it and Coronavirus. But your risk would be much much less now. It’s possible you were more prone to developing heart disease during periods of obesity but I don’t think that alone would put you in the vulnerable category today.

I think it’s th issue of breathing - once you are obese enough to have sleep apnea etc, then your body is already struggling to breathe. Circulation also becomes poorer. Add in a vicious upper respiratory tract illness and you are putting too much pressure on an already impacted system

In other words, you are in no greater danger than anyone else in the healthy/overweight bmi - congratulations on your weight loss! Great achievement 😊

I don’t think it would be. It’s partly about the actual pressure from the extra weight on your chest I think? Same reason why you’re more likely to snore/have sleep apnoea if you carry more weight. One of the questions on my sleep apnoea risk form was neck circumference.

Huge well done on losing that weight!

I was 40.3 BMI at the start of the year but I’m losing gradually and am now at 369.Think I’ve already had CV but I improved my fitness a lot last year (gently due to other issues I have) and I’ve noticed in the last year I’ve had far fewer respiratory issues from colds, whatever virus it was it was absolute hell but I’m getting stronger again and whatever it was I am using the risk factor as inspiration to keep exercising and eating well. I think the fact you’re able to do HIIT may mean you’re pretty fit and your lung health will have hugely benefited from that, so I wouldn’t worry about past BMI, focus on the now and how well you’ve done!

LOL 36.9 not 369 😅

Pocketem I'm still not sure that proves it? There is likely to be a correlation between obesity and other health issues (such as high blood pressure or diabetes) which are known to be high risk categories, and the data you've shown doesn't allow for that. If you're overweight or obese (or have been in the past, like the OP), but don't have any of the other issues, are you definitely at higher risk than a person of normal weight?

Thanks, this is reassuring. I know no one can know for certain and this virus doesn't appear to be discriminating but it's more motivation to keep going with the weight loss and not just think 'fuck it, damage is done, pass the cheesecake'

Funny what people consider to be "proof". Hypothesis: Scientific illiteracy is a greater public health risk than obesity.

I'm fat, high BMI. No other health complications, did not shield and have most likely had it. Was like a bad longish flu, but had worse symptoms with real flu.

No one can say how your body will react but I wouldn't worry.

Pocketem, while that table is very nicely laid out it doesn't in any way prove high BMI causes a greater risk of dying from covid.

The table shows that in patients with BMI < 25 that 43.6% died. In patients with BMI 30+, 57.6% died.

An ICU professor from UCL was just on BBC news saying basically, it’s difficult to conclude highest risk factors and it’s possible there’s a genetic disposition that isn’t fully understood yet and also possibly linked to viral load. He did say that so far, by far the biggest risk category (regardless of any other factors) seems to be being Male and 50+

I read ages ago that it’s been impossible to do the kind of long term ‘former fat’ studies as we have for former smokers. Basically because the numbers of people who lose the weight and then keep it off are too small to be able to accurately recruit and study it long term.

But logically I think given what causes the problems for obese people and coronavirus, your risk will be the same as if you’d never been overweight.

Yes, it does.

What it doesn't show is Co mortality factors.

Say all the higher BMI people were fatter because they did no exercise due to having severe health conditions that reduced their mobility. Like, heart conditions, lung conditions...or life style factors like smoking.

Therefore they may be more likely to die of factors not directly linked to their weight.

Men are also more likely to die, guess what? Putting on a dress won't help them. It's thought there is a hormonal linked effect.

OP, try not to worry about it. Just keep doing what you're doing. You're doing really well, BTW, congratulations on the weight loss, I'm currently trying to lose some weight as I'm in a similar situation - I put on a horrible amount of weight while pregnant & have yoyo-ed ever since, DD is almost 8. Am still definitely in the overweight category, although I don't currently have any scales. And I'm quite badly asthmatic & have spent many periods in my life struggling to breathe (TBH I'm terrified but I'm trying to keep a lid on it for DD's sake, I did kind of break down last night & tell DH how scared I am).

I'm just trying to concentrate on the practical things. Eating healthily. Getting whatever exercise I can. Sleep (tricky!) Protecting myself from the moronic behaviour of the small minority of other people.

Say all the higher BMI people were fatter because they did no exercise due to having severe health conditions that reduced their mobility. Like, heart conditions, lung conditions...or life style factors like smoking.

Then being obese would still add an additional risk factor on top of all those. We already know obesity in itself is a risk factor for poorer health.

And yes well done OP you’ve done fab.