How will they know who is obese?

[GinWithRosie]

Just that really! In the latest reports about new proposed 'rules' on shielding that 'may or may not' (who knows anymore!!) be introduced, it is saying that anyone over-50 and obese will be told to shield. But...how will 'they' know this information?

I guess I'd be in that category, at 56 and 14 stone, but nobody in authority knows my weight! I've never been weighed at a GP surgery or any other place where my weight has been recorded. I haven't even visited my new GP surgery...so they've not actually seen my body to have a clue what I might be in terms of BMI 🤷‍♀️

So...how will they know?

They won't know, they're hoping you'll take some responsibility yourself for working it out and protecting your health.

I don’t mean to be rude, but it’s fairly obvious if someone is obese.

Also these would be guidelines, I guess if you are over 50 and obese you can take your chances if you like

I think (might be wrong) that shielding is a choice. It’s not like having to isolate if you have symptoms etc. So if you want to protect yourself as you may be higher risk then you choose to shield. My dad is in his 80s so is high risk but he goes for a walk most days and very occasionally to a shop.

I’m not sure it is obvious who is obese. Overweight, yes, absolutely, but obese in a medical sense? That’s BMI over 40 I think. Could you tell, just by looking, someone at BMI 39 from 41? I very much doubt it. Plus they haven’t really shown obesity itself is a risk factor rather than health issues often, but not always, associated with obesity (high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes etc).

Well they’ll no if you’re over 50 so will possibly send out letter saying if you are obese as well the you should shield. You really don’t need to weigh yourself to know you’re obese so like previous poster suggests people need to take responsibility for themselves.

They won’t be policing it.

@hamstersarse overweight and obese are actually a bit tricky to differentiate with the eye, particularly if someone is tall or broad shouldered - if you'd have said morbidly obese I would agree.

I do not think blaming and shaming are particularly helpful either! Particularly as it's shift working, unsociable hours, ethnicity, low pay and high stress jobs which are indicators for obesity - not things which are in every ones gift to control.

@BadDucks

Well they’ll no if you’re over 50 so will possibly send out letter saying if you are obese as well the you should shield. You really don’t need to weigh yourself to know you’re obese so like previous poster suggests people need to take responsibility for themselves.

Yes you would need to weigh yourself. And do a BMI calculation. It’s not vague, the risk kicks in at a definite BMI apparently. It’s not just ‘fat people’ - though I suspect you would like us all hidden away from that sort of attitude.

I think obesity is being used as the catch all for being metabolic healthy @cardibach

It’s a pretty good catch-all to be fair to them

I'm obese but I wouldn't shield. I work from home anyway but I need to be able to get the shopping etc. If it comes to it I think an able bodied 20 something is perfectly capable of going to Lidl. There would be people much more in need of online delivery slots etc.

I think obese is BMI > 30, BMI > 40 has another name I've forgotten!

[quote Timeforabiscuit]@hamstersarse overweight and obese are actually a bit tricky to differentiate with the eye, particularly if someone is tall or broad shouldered - if you'd have said morbidly obese I would agree.

I do not think blaming and shaming are particularly helpful either! Particularly as it's shift working, unsociable hours, ethnicity, low pay and high stress jobs which are indicators for obesity - not things which are in every ones gift to control.[/quote]
I don’t think now is a good time to go into the fat shaming rabbit hole

It’s become abundantly clear even to those that denied it a year ago, that there are serious health consequences to being obese. And bringing morality into it, saying people are judging etc. just isn’t helpful. No one is judging, no one is shaming, it’s just an uncomfortable truth

What you can do about it if you are obese is a very different discussion.

@110APiccadilly

I think obese is BMI > 30, BMI > 40 has another name I've forgotten!

Yes. But the risk for Covid doesn’t increase at 30. Pretty sure it’s 40 (that’s what I read anyway) and, again, nobody seems able to show it’s actually the weight that is the issue and not other factors often (but not always) associated with it.

Yes that’s what I said Cardibach “hide away all the overweight people” 🙄. If you are happy with your weight crack on but if you are concerned that your weight puts you at greater risk of Covid then follow relevant advice that’s what personally responsibility means in this context.
People need to stop being so emotive about the issue of weight. Weight has no bearing on if you are beautiful, kind, intelligent or a general all round fabulous fucker but it does come with potential health implications. No side stepping it really and discussing it isn’t “fat shaming”.

Obese is over 30 then there are stages of obesity. Over 40 would be morbidly obese. So many people in this country are obese that half the country would shut down if they had to isolate!

And yet low carb is constantly criticised on here but it’s a very quick and effective way to become metabolically healthy. My partner and I both lost over a stone at the end of lockdown and are now nearing 50 with a completely normal BMI. You don’t have to accept being a statistic, this stuff is changeable and you can change it quickly.

@BadDucks

Yes that’s what I said Cardibach “hide away all the overweight people” 🙄. If you are happy with your weight crack on but if you are concerned that your weight puts you at greater risk of Covid then follow relevant advice that’s what personally responsibility means in this context. People need to stop being so emotive about the issue of weight. Weight has no bearing on if you are beautiful, kind, intelligent or a general all round fabulous fucker but it does come with potential health implications. No side stepping it really and discussing it isn’t “fat shaming”.

Maybe not. But the attitude of ‘you don’t need to weigh to know if you are obese’ suggests a certain view. And is also medically inaccurate...

BMI is >30. I think society has become so used to seeing fat people, the clothes, portion sizes have all got bigger and are now the norm. Many have no clue they are obese afterall they can fit in a size 12 jeans from Asda. If this advise is given out individuals will need to do what they should be doing - take some responsibility.

How many times, @hesaidshesaidwhat ?
The risk for Covid is not increased at BMI 30.

So at least a third of people over 50 advised to shield? A tad impractical I think

Ah ok...so it will be a case of individuals deciding for themselves then do we think? I was just wondering how it would be managed...and couldn't understand how anyone in authority could possibly know!

I got a 'shielding letter' in the first round as I'm classed as vulnerable due to medical reasons...so of course this is documented.

(Off to google BMI and 'how to loose 4 stones in two weeks 😂)

BMI over 40 is classed as morbidly obese.

Does it? If you say so cardibach 🤷‍♀️ If you don’t know if you are medically obese or just overweight but are sufficiently concerned then you take steps to find out. Again personal responsibility. You’re making a lot of assumptions about me you don’t even know if I myself am or ever have been overweight.

@cardibach

How many times, *@hesaidshesaidwhat* ? The risk for Covid is not increased at BMI 30.

Sorry so it is the super obese being asked to shield (possibly?). That's different then. Someone at BMI 30 could be a size 16 which seems less unlikely to be particularly unhealthy!

@cardibach I think I misunderstood what you were saying - I'm not sure what BMI causes a significant increase in Covid risk so wasn't commenting on that!

P.S. Are you in fact a small person from West Wales or am I misinterpreting your user name?