No 10 wants people to lose weight before the second wave

[Redolent]

What could possibly go wrong with encouraging people to go on a quick crash diet??

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As well as longer-term proposals to reduce the incidence of obesity, government officials are having urgent discussions about how to persuade people to lose weight in the next few months, before an anticipated resurgence in coronavirus cases in the autumn.

In England, 64% of adults are classed as overweight or obese and 29% as obese as measured by BMI, among the highest levels in Europe.

One official involved in the emergency planning said the government was alarmed at the possible death toll from a second wave. A programme is expected imminently, possibly within 10 days, based on encouraging people to reduce their calorific intake and lose weight rapidly.

@YangShanPo

Is this the same government that is giving everyone in the country a £10 restaurant voucher?

Yes, what does that have to do with anything?

Outdoor exercise is good but if you want to stay in optimal condition for as long as possible you need a wider range of activities such as afforded by a well equipped gymnasium or other fitness facility.

Furthermore people are much more inclined to exercise if they can find an activity which they enjoy and feel comfortable doing, if the only options are walking running cycling then those who find them suboptimal have no other options

@SparkLee

dairy fair enough, you're certainly entitled to your opinion. I think its very dismissive saying that most people are obese because of lifestyle choice and not because of medical conditions,which mental health falls under. We can respectfully agree to disagree.

Are you saying that the majority of the 64% of overweight/obese adults have mental health problems?

Eat less, move more isn't always possible
I miss exercise, I loved lifting weights but I can't do it any more, I can barely walk without being covered in hives. They've run out of meds, I've got one left to try and my dermatology appointment has been cancelled because of covid
I've just been diagnosed with hashimotos and am massively under medicated at the minute too, again no endo referral because.. covid

So I'm in a place where I am reliant on whatever food gets delivered (substitutes) as I can't go to the supermarket, trying to go gluten free for the hashimotos and can't go out for a walk without being plastered in itchy hives that are incredibly uncomfortable and make people stare at me

I'm a size 16 and yes, I know I'm overweight but I'm a bit stuck, and posts like "it's simple, go for a run..." yeah. Thanks

Yes, what does that have to do with anything?

I mean it's like they are encouraging us to eat out which is not the best way to help people lose weight.

Thanks @MorrisZapp. I have a few medals as well, despite being a fatso that’s destined to die of Covid and it all being my own fault I have occasionally managed to get my arse off the couch for things like race for life, Kiltwalk, swimming challenges etc.

I totally appreciate that people need to take responsibility for themselves and I do. I’m calorie counting and doing couch to 5k myself just now but I don’t think it’s too much to ask of people to look outside their own bubble and see how things might be more difficult for others than it is for them, and blame and finger pointing just makes things worse

Yep I sure do @dairyfairies if you have a look on here it lists a number of eating disorders. Many of which manifest themselves in obesity. How do you know when you see someone who’s obese that they don’t have a “genuine” eating disorder? Or do you think only things like anorexia and bulimia are genuine eating disorders?

www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/

spark - there are lots of statistics out there. I the UK approximately 6 percent of the adult population have an eating disorder. This is only a very small proportion of the obese population.

i am not sure park runs and gyms would be social distance

or swimming pools, ergh. all that snot.

@YangShanPo

Yes, what does that have to do with anything?

I mean it's like they are encouraging us to eat out which is not the best way to help people lose weight.

There's nothing in the T&Cs that says healthy food isn't allowed.

It's perfectly possible to eat out on a diet and not overindulge or choose to eat massive portions.

People also have the option of giving it a miss altogether.

worra I'm saying that in most cases feeling the need to eat until you are obese isn't done for shits and giggles. Who really wants to be obese and have all the mental and physical problems that come with it? All the bullying from both children and adults? Feeling disgusting and worthless every day of your life? Made to feel like your weight is a moral failing? Compulsive eating disorder is a real thing, and I think saying most people who are obese are just greedy, lazy and lacking willpower (as it's always assumed) is really insulting.

My main problem with this initiative isn’t this impetus to get people healthier (although as I said, fast fix diets screw people over in the long term). It’s the fact that this distracts from the government not putting out a solid 6-9 month strategy for dealing with covid. What is their plan for the coming months? Is it really just “whack a mole”?? Constant local lockdowns and a steady 100 deaths a day? (The public seems to tolerate this ) The inevitability of school closure?

They seem to have accepted the inevitability of a second wave, refusing to address the many problems in our track and trace process, and things like their unrealistic back to school plan. No masks and mega bubbles of hundreds of pupils. What a joke

@dairyfairies

spark - there are lots of statistics out there. I the UK approximately 6 percent of the adult population have an eating disorder. This is only a very small proportion of the obese population.

I believe when I last looked the 6% figure was diagnosed eating disorders. When I was diagnosed with bulimia I was not diagnosed with diabulimia despite my diabulimia being much more advanced.

Fizz I don't know if an individual has an eating disorders or medical condition. I never debated these did not exist..Not sure what point you are trying to make?

All I said is that most people who are obese are not so as a result of an underactive thyroid, PCOS or a clinical eating disorder. not sure what you don't understand

@SparkLee

worra I'm saying that in most cases feeling the need to eat until you are obese isn't done for shits and giggles. Who really wants to be obese and have all the mental and physical problems that come with it? All the bullying from both children and adults? Feeling disgusting and worthless every day of your life? Made to feel like your weight is a moral failing? Compulsive eating disorder is a real thing, and I think saying most people who are obese are just greedy, lazy and lacking willpower (as it's always assumed) is really insulting.

I'm not saying any of those things.

I'm asking if you think the majority of overweight people are mentally ill, because that's what your earlier post suggested.

Or at least that's how I read it.

Swimming pools are probably a bit gross Covid or not @CrowdedHouseinQuarantine. Skin, hair, wee, sweat, bits of toenails, veruccas, boak! If people thought about it too much no one would ever go swimming!

dairy the 6% of people are those ones who have been diagnosed. Thousands of people suffering won't have an official diagnosis. Me included.

@FizzFan

Boris Johnson is still obese. He looks exactly the fucking same as before he was ill. And he didn’t “nearly die” either given he wasn’t on a ventilator

He was seriously ill though and still looks dreadful.

Here’s the thing, just because the government are giving out for vouchers and encouraging you to eat out it doesn’t mean that you have to. Presumably you are not a sheep and have your own free will?

It’s also possible to eat out and make healthier choices.

Not rocket science is it?

Nobody is giving out vouchers in my area (sadly) - but if people stick to eating out instead of eating at home and not in addition to it, then the vouchers won't be a problem.

I am verging on being overweight and I could say it is because of my thyroid problem.

They can start with Boris who is clearly very overweight!

All I said is that most people who are obese are not so as a result of an underactive thyroid, PCOS or a clinical eating disorder. not sure what you don't understand

But how do you know that? Maybe it suits you to think people are all just weak, thick, stupid and lazy but obesity is complex and there can be many different factors affecting people’s ability to lose weight.

As for being encouraged to eat out so what? I can eat a cake a few times a week and still lose weight or go for a blow out meal. No wonder so many people find diets difficult to adhere to if you are of the belief that you can never have a dessert or dinner out. Or even a daily chocolate bar. Its the amount that people (myself included) consume rather than what. Before I became overweight I ate chocolate every day. Just not family size bars

Totally agree @Redolent and @SparkLee

It's no surprise though, is it? It's a well known fact, even prior to the pandemic, that obesity puts you at significantly higher risk of disease and health complications.

What is your point, OP? Sorry to be blunt, but it's kind of obvious to most people that a healthy weight, err means you're healthy and at lower risk.