BMI over 40 increases chances of dying of Covid by 90%

[Worriedmum999]

I’ve just read a new study by PHE that obese people have a 40% increased risk of dying and BMI over 40 is a 90% increase. I was already petrified of catching it as I am massively overweight and not leaving the house at all.

I’ve been overweight all my life and my BMI is now 46! I’m in such a state. I don’t want to leave my 2 young children. I need to do this but with 30 years of failed diets behind me I honestly don’t know where to start

Even a one hundred per cent increase in the chances of dying are still a very, very small chance of dying, as the 'normal' risk is so incredibly low. Obviously being overweight increases the risk of all sorts of things, but Covid is unlikely to be the thing that kills you.

Try and remember a couple of things, op. 90% increase doesn’t mean you have a 90% chance of dying. It is an increase on an already small risk. Secondly, Susan Jebb said even small weight loss was helpful - that 2-5 kgs could have a positive impact. Does that feel at all feasible, so you feel you are taking some positive action rather than feeling so panicked? I am very sympathetic to how you must be feeling, I lost a very large amount of weight three years ago, and it is a great relief not to have additional worry right now.

As others have said it's a 90% increase in a small number. Suppose the base-line risk for your age group is 1 in a thousand. That means your risk is just under 2 in a thousand. Hopefully not so bad when you look at it that way.

not leaving the house at all. and sympathy, but that's actually the first thing you need to knock on the head. Probably the single biggest thing you could do for your health right now would be to go for a 20 minute walk every day. Going from no activity to moderate activity will be the single biggest health gain you can make, and it's relatively easy.

Next thing is to think in terms of small positive changes you can make to your diet. Rather than starting from "I must cut out biscuits, crisps, chocolate, chips...", start from "I am going to add 2 portions of fruit/veg/salad to every meal." Try to make a small move towards eating better rather than less. Less will hopefully come as you do a bit more exercise and have some healthy stuff in there.

It is phenomenally hard, though. The other thing is to see your GP and see if there's any chance of being referred for bariatric surgery (a friend of mine had this done and coupled with changes in diet it's taken him from the morbidly obese category into the overweight category).

Hey I am in the same position. Don’t panic, take vitamin D, keep sticking to social distancing, exercise and eat well. I’m not saying obesity isn’t a factor but please don’t get it out of perspective. If 8% of people in ICU have a BMI over 40, it means 92% of people on ICU have a lower one.

Like others have said start small.
I am tracking my weight loss on an app - Apple phone. In the last 2 months as have lost 2.5kg... I am obese. I know it is not a lot but I have kept it off and it is a loss and has inspired me to keep going.

I am not dieting - but am consciously thinking Things such as “ do I need 5 biscuits or is 1 going to be ok” and actually one has been ok.

I hope you can get some support from your Dr and make those small changes to help your diet become healthier.

A BMI of 46 is very high, and carries with it a range of health risks which you should take seriously, but you shouldn’t let this particular one paralyse you with terror.

The rule of thumb is that your risk of dying if you contract Covid is the same as your risk of dying of natural causes would be this year. Did you wake up on 1st January scared that you wouldn’t make it to New Year’s Eve? If you had a male DP who were the same age as you and had a perfect BMI of 21 then his risk of dying from Covid would be the same or more than yours. I don’t think the male half of the population live in mortal fear because their risk is doubled.

I’m sure you’ll get lots of good advice on weight loss from helpful people on this thread and you should definitely listen to it. Also of course continue to wash your hands, observe social distancing and generally behave like a sensible and considerate member of society. But don’t panic just because you’ve read that a very very small risk has been doubled.

Oh op I'm in the same boat and am massively struggling not to panic over this "news" today. I suppose the most positive way to look at it is that there is something we can do about it. As I understand it, the risk drops a fair bit if your BMI is under 40 so that can be our first goal can't it? Work out what a BMI if under 40 would be and aim for that in the first place.

And try and think of the positives - we can do something to try and improve our risk factor. Many of the other risk factors are things that people can’t change, that must be worrying too. Plus a news article I saw said that it’s not just obesity it’s also that obesity is linked with poor education, low living standards, poor housing and employment opportunities etc...none of that applies to me, I’m just fat.

I can totally understand your fear, I was exactly the same in March when I realised my BMI put me on the vulnerable list.

March I had a BMI of 48.3.... bigger than you and I’m now a BMI 42.2, still classed as vulnerable but better than it was and I’m aiming to get under 40 by September.

I know how scary it is but please remember the risk is still small!

Take one day at a time, the best thing I have done for myself is to go out walking, it’s helped me lose some weight but also clear my mind and get things into perspective.

Things will get better, there’s a really lovely support thread on here for us over 40 BMI and wanting to lose the weight....it’s nice to chat with others in the same boat

Posted by @ToffeeYoghurt a while ago.

A guide for Boris re tackling obesity.
Ensuring people have proper housing with access to proper cooking facilities and storage.
Enough money (be it through employment, pension, or benefits) to afford healthy fresh food (no food banks).
An overhauled NHS so people are no longer (as they were pre pandemic) left waiting months on end for treatment (suffering prolonged mobility issues as a consequence).
Also good mental health provision including help and support for comfort eating, and looking again at the pros and cons of the different mental health drugs.
In some cases, certainly when its long-term use, it's perhaps preferable to prescribe the out of fashion benzodiazepines rather than the modern anti depressants that often cause weight gain.
Oh and we'd need to stop dismissing patients symptoms, especially women, as mental health or hormones. I've heard several people talk about this sort of experience when they had undiagnosed thyroid conditions (which can lead to weight gain).
Boris- over to you!!

Hi op,

I started lock down with a bmi of 43.6 and weighed 306lb. I had trouble dieting before. No real success.

I decided to try again by calorie counting on myfitnesspal. And am now down to a bmi of 39 and weigh 275lb.

I found tracking the calories and seeing exactly how many are in what very helpful. I was able to cut or replace things to reduce my intake.

I also found a tdee calculator to work out roughly how many calories I burn with a sedentary lifestyle and eat 1000 calories less than that a day to try and lose 2lb a week. So far its been surprisingly easy and I do lose that roughly. I think I have roughly lost 10% of my body. I hope the slow steady approach will help me learn good habits as well. It is a pain to track to start with but after a few weeks it gets quick.

I too am very worried about covid but all I can do now is keep this up and get as low as possible before winter. We do socially distance but do go out.

I have also got a cheap fitness tracker and have started walking. Aim to start weights soon to help hide the flabby bits left behind.

I can now even start to chase my 6yr old around the garden in short bursts. My knees don't really hurt anymore.

There is also a Public Health England app that do have some good, easy power calorie recipe ideas and they are all OK. Search for one you easy meals in your app store.

Good luck.

Don't get too stressed as that will not help, try and loose weight steadily also check your sugar intake.

I know a very overweight 48 year old with a bmi of over 42, who had it very mildly - so it is not a death sentence! but at the same time don't let yourself off the hook, use it as inspiration if you can.

Thank you for all these positive comments!!! Everyone has done so well losing over lockdown. I feel I’ve really let myself down not losing any yet. I really need to give this a good go!

I’ve just got myself a bike, the children have just learnt to ride confidently so there really is no excuse now

I could of written this post myself!! The best thing we can do is use this as the motivation to actually get on and lose the weight! If you fancy buddying up let me know xx

I’m obsessed with trying lose weight-running everyday, walking lots and lots and eating healthier. I’m scared of being on a ventilator. Just try to do your best with losing weight. Nothing has focused my mind more than worry over being in icu. Try to change your fear into something positive & imagine how good you’ll feel losing weight & feel more in control.

I was BMI 42 in March, now BMI of 32, you can do this! Focus on trying to get under 40 by November. I've done it by calorie counting and walking and as I've lost weight some light jogging too. You've got this!!

I started off with the fear and doing well but as the virus and my fear has subsided my passivity came back

Age is a far greater risk factor than BMI

To put into perspective:
The risk of death doubles for every 5-6 years of age

So that 90% increase for BMI 40+ is only like being 4-5 years older

I decided to try again by calorie counting on myfitnesspal. And am now down to a bmi of 39 and weigh 275lb

MFP is brilliant. If you know what's going in, you know either what you need to burn off, or where any issues are.

Firstly you need to check out your calorie goal. Don't restrict yourself. You're looking for lifestyle changes, not a crash diet that won't work.

3500 calories = 1lb of fat (roughly). If you can cut your calories per day 250, and exercise 250 calories, that's your 1lb per week.

Best way to burn fat is build muscle. Just doing cardio can only do so much and strength training and building muscle will burn that fat up.

Slow and steady wins the race. My fitness pal is a great place to start.

Don't think of it as denying yourself anything, think of it as improving your health and setting an amazing example to your children of what you can do.

You can do this OP

My BMI has gone down to 39 because I’ve been following Weight Watchers. I was a stone and a half heavier at the beginning of June and this is a liveable plan that makes you change your eating habits.

I am also worried about Covid and it’s pushing me to get healthy. Feel free to message me if you’d like support, we can help each other. Also, if you’d like to try the Weight Watchers plan I think they are offering it free for a few months at the moment. The food is all very normal and although I’ve missed bingeing I have felt better in myself.

It’s only a 1% chance of dying if you catch it being increased to 1.4% or 1.9%. You still have over 98% chance of surviving. So don’t panic.

@Bakewell79 could you link to the thread you mentioned please? Another one in the same boat, OP.

@ollyandstacey Link is :

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/coronavirus/3869566-Anyone-with-40-BMI-want-support-to-loose-weight-during-lockdown

It's gone a little quiet but im sure we can kick start it back into action :)

Lots of us knocking about to support one another xx

OP you are right to take this seriously. Even if you don’t catch Covid, losing weight will benefit your health enormously and mean you live longer for your chicken anyway.
You can do this! Every time you have a setback don’t give up, just start the next day afresh. And keep going.
Leave the house and exercise. This will do wonders for your mental health