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how do you feel if you are obese and worried about coronavirus?

17 replies

CrowdedHouseinQuarantine · 14/06/2020 12:55

embarrassed?
I do,

OP posts:
ohthegoats · 14/06/2020 13:08

Do you have any other risk factors?

Diabetic
Asthmatic
BAME
White male over 55

Sunnydays123456 · 14/06/2020 13:09

I would def address my weight problem

BrokenBrit · 14/06/2020 13:11

Op I am sorry you feel embarrassed, there is no shame in being obese.

PanicOnTheStreets85 · 14/06/2020 13:12

I was obese and worried and the virus but I joined Slimming World online in mid-March and have dropped my BMI from 33 to 29.2 so far (1.5 stone lost). I reckon I'll be back to a healthy BMI by the time things return to normal. It has been a massive kick up the bum for me and I've realised I'm much better able to control my snacking whilst working from home. I'm a bit embarrassed that it has taken a global pandemic to get me to stick to a diet though 🤷‍♀️

AlexaShutUp · 14/06/2020 13:13

I'm worried, OP, and somewhat guilty and ashamed that I have put myself at greater risk as a result of failing to address the problem of my weight. It isn't straightforward, though, and is tangled up with all sorts of mental health issues that haven't been properly addressed either.

I have been trying to prioritise my health during lockdown, and I've lost around 9kg so far. I still have a long way to go, but I figure that every little that I lose will help to reduce my overall risk.

CrowdedHouseinQuarantine · 14/06/2020 13:17

will have to join SW also in that case. i have resisted.
i also have asthma

well done to those who have made steps in the right direction.

OP posts:
FiveNightsAtMummys · 14/06/2020 13:27

I agree there is no shame in being obese at all. Keep yourself safe the best you can, just like someone would who is higher risk due to asthma etc.

TheMostHappy · 14/06/2020 13:31

I'm very obsese - BMU 51. I too feel very embarrassed and ashamed. I have started eating keto and am about to start week 7 of couch to 5k thus week.

I also have asthma and kidney disease.

I realise it's all too little too late to lose such a significant amount of weight before things go back to normal, but I have seen some positive health improvements that I hope would improve my chances if I were to catch corona:

I have lost 8kg so far
I am now not sedentary but running 3 times per week
My blood pressure has dropped from average of 140/90 to 105/60
I am hardly using my reliever inhaler.

Nsky · 14/06/2020 13:39

I think being obese ( unless thro meds gain) is unhealthy at any point I was once, never to return tho

Juststopit · 14/06/2020 13:42

I m oversight and have started to diet, however I have two very dear friends who are morbidly obese, asthmatic and diabetic and I wish they would try and improve their health. I really don’t want to lose them and I know they are scared.

frozendaisy · 14/06/2020 13:59

If lockdown has encouraged anyone to be healthier in whatever way it's a good thing try and not worry or be embarrassed about the past, don't look back you're not going that way.

Isthisfinallyit · 14/06/2020 14:03

I really believe that obesity is a mental health problem. I don't think people should be embarressed or implied that they should be embarressed for being obese, or depressed, or traumatised or any of the other health problems. There needs to be more understanding and real help. Just pointing out that people are obese and need to live healthier isn't helping (clearly). Nobody wants to be unhealthy.

namechange0202 · 14/06/2020 14:03

Guilt and embarrassed and scared . My GP surgery put the fear into me in a big way and as such I’ve hardly left the house since March .

I’m down to twenty stone 4 from 23 stone - but I’m hardly eating as I’m scared to . BMI now 41 I think .

Mawbags · 14/06/2020 14:35

Well folks, I went the other way and turned to the cakes

I’m now even fatter at 14 stone

So congrats to all of you because I am a disgrace

Lemons1571 · 14/06/2020 14:55

Initially I was terrified. The thread about being denied a ventilator in favour of someone less fat was terrifying.

Now - meh. My BMI raises my risk of dying from 0.1% to 0.2%. So I keep a bit of perspective about the risk.

It is also now known that a high BMI doesn’t increase your chance of serious corona disease. It’s more that if you are unlucky enough to get serious disease, it’s then possibly a bit harder to treat you.

GP’s should not be terrifying people so much that they stop eating. Crash diets can cause other issues such as gallstones.

PowerslidePanda · 14/06/2020 15:15

It is also now known that a high BMI doesn’t increase your chance of serious corona disease. It’s more that if you are unlucky enough to get serious disease, it’s then possibly a bit harder to treat you.

Do you have a source for this, please? I've seen studies and ICNARC data that say the opposite.

YogaLite · 14/06/2020 16:27

It's also been a good incentive for me, moved from obese to overweight and still almost a stone to go to "normal".

I think for me it's a fear of going shopping what has helped most as I don't shop on line.

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