BMI 38 - would you say I am “clinically vulnerable“?

[Lemons1571]

My medical records show I am BMI 40+ after a GP insisted on weighing me a few years ago. The gp practice starting texting me about a free flu jab soon after this, presumably because of the BMI result (no one has ever confirmed or explained that though). So, at that time years ago, I would have fitted into the current government definition of “clinically vulnerable” for covid.

Anyway fast forward to now, my employer has asked all staff to let them know if you’re clinically vulnerable, as part of their new coronavirus policy. They are a good employer so it’s not designed to furlough or make anyone redundant. I measured my BMI this morning on the nhs calculator, did my exact height in cm and exact weight to the nearest pound. It came out as BMI 38. I have been cutting down a bit so maybe that’s why, first time I’ve weighed myself in ages.

So now I don’t know if I’m classed as “clinically vulnerable” or not. I have no other health conditions on the clinically vulnerable list on gov.uk

I’ve emailed the gp surgery to ask, but they’re busy and I’m not actually ill, so it could take a while for them to get back to me.

What do you think?

So now I don’t know if I’m classed as “clinically vulnerable” or not.

Why do you not know?

Moderate risk covers BMI of 40 or above. You don't have that. You don't have any other condition. Why are you wasting your GP surgery time on this?

Do you think your weight is going to go down or up? You're not currently clinically vulnerable, but you're only about 10lbs away from it right now (but well done for dropping weight).

Either way, if your job can't be done from home, you can go to work, even if you are clinically vulnerable.

Obese but not morbidly obese but edging that way.
Appears to increase risk somewhat but you’re female which is lower risk. You’re not in extremely vulnerable cohort and risk would include consideration of what your job is.

What @masonmason said

I think that, depending upon the time of the month, your bathroom habits and how much salt/fluids you've had, it would be very easy to go back to the 40 within a week.

They aren't going to be weighing you to check.

I've ticked the box in the same situation.

I suppose I don’t want to fall foul of any non-disclosure to my employer. They make it clear that you have to let them know immediately if you’re clinically vulnerable, and my medical records do indeed state “BMI 40+“. So I guess legally I’m still classed as BMI 40+. Hence thought maybe the gp could change this on my mediCal record. I don’t want to waste their time though.

Nothing to do with going back to the office or not, everyone is successfully wfh for the foreseeable future (including me).

So I guess legally I’m still classed as BMI 40+.

You are being ridiculous. You don't have a BMI or 40+, you have a BMI of 38.

Why would it be non disclosure if you no longer fit that criteria?

I know! The facts are the facts. I’m not explaining myself very well.

I suppose it’s like when you take out travel insurance - I have to declare BMI 40+ because it’s on my medical records. Even though I’m a bit under that now. But if I don’t disclose BMI 40+, they could invalidate a claim.

I agree with what @masonmason said too.

In addition your GP surgery won’t be able to answer your question unless you’ve sent them your to date weight as on their records your BMI is >40 so if they answer your question based on the information they already have they’re going to say you are vulnerable.

They may not agree to update your medical recordsP based on your home weight either as they have no idea whether or not your scales are accurate (and from what you’ve said in your post neither do you).

There is no such thing as a legal BMI classification. You don’t need to tell your employer anything even if you did have a 40+ BMI. It is only so that they can consider adjustments to make people’s working environment safer. If they choose not to disclose their type 1 diabetes or brittle asthma or whatever, that only means the employer is not liable for the risk. Don’t fret over it. Perhaps just monitor your weight and let them know if you do go back up to BMI 40 - if you want them to take action to keep you safer at work.

I suppose it’s like when you take out travel insurance - I have to declare BMI 40+ because it’s on my medical records. Even though I’m a bit under that now. But if I don’t disclose BMI 40+, they could invalidate a claim.

You are overthinking this. If your analogy re travel insurance was to work you would need to still have a BMI of over 40

You do not. You do not need to disclose something that doesn't exist. Whatever is in your medical records form years ago is not replace the. What you weigh NOW is relevant.

Hmm that’s a bugger. So I can’t make an appointment to go and see them to be weighed and measured in person because that’s wasting their time. They are unlikely to take my word for it over the phone. But then if I leave it, I’m stuck disclosing BMI 40+ as it’s the last entry on the medical record.

What a pain.

Is not relevant

I would see it as a No

Hmm that’s a bugger. So I can’t make an appointment to go and see them to be weighed and measured in person because that’s wasting their time. They are unlikely to take my word for it over the phone. But then if I leave it, I’m stuck disclosing BMI 40+ as it’s the last entry on the medical record.

You DO NOT need to tell anyone you have a BMI of 40+ because you have a BMI of 38.

What a pain.

There is no pain. You are making something out of absolutely nothing.

Why do you think you have to disclose what's on your medical record?? It's confidential. Your employer is asking for self disclosure, not access to your health records. If your BMI is 38 then it's 38 and you don't qualify as vulnerable.

Weigh yourself, put that and your height into a BMI calculator.

40 and over: clinically vulnerable
39 and under: not

Gosh what a weird thread.

FWIW my BMI is 40+ and I don’t think any ‘legally’ knows. Whatever the fuck that means.

Loom at it like this, the last time DC for measures at the GP he was 4 ft 6. He is now 5 ft 7. Does he tell his employer he is 4 ft 6 because the GP hasn't measured him recently? NO. Of course not.

I would say yes to clinically vulnerable for the following reasons.

Studies show that BMI 35+ with weight related conditions are considered morbidly obese, it’s only with no conditions it’s morbidly obese is 40+.

Secondly if you have any endocrine condition like PCOS, T1/T2 diabetes or are prediabetic (I have bought urine strips to test mine) then I would consider that tk be high risk.

BAME people are dying because of the higher prevalence of T2 diabetes. Studies are slowly starting to show this is one of the top comobidities. If you have any of those additional risk factors, you probably are clinically vulnerable even if the form doesn’t say it outright.

I wouldn't be happy about sharing my BMI with my employer in the first place. I haven't been weighed at the doctors for years so god knows what my medical records say. I'd just put whatever your BMI is now.

I would say yes to clinically vulnerable for the following reasons.

OP employer is not asking OP to decide based on their reasoning. They are asking them to tell them if they fit into any of the existing categories.

Studies show that BMI 35+ with weight related conditions are considered morbidly obese, it’s only with no conditions it’s morbidly obese is 40+.

The category is 40+, not 35+ because you think so

*Secondly if you have any endocrine condition like PCOS, T1/T2 diabetes or are prediabetic (I have bought urine strips to test mine) then I would consider that tk be high risk.
**
*OP had no other conditions.

BAME people are dying because of the higher prevalence of T2 diabetes. Studies are slowly starting to show this is one of the top comobidities. If you have any of those additional risk factors, you probably are clinically vulnerable even if the form doesn’t say it outright.

Again, no other conditions.

This isn't a thread about opinion. It's about whether OP fits into a very specific category. OO does not.

What do you want to do, OP? If you're honest with yourself, do you actually want to put yourself down as vulnerable?

Are you secretly looking for a reason or confirmation/justification that it’s ok for you to say your BMI is 40+ when it’s not?

Are you concerned about potentially not working from home anymore?