My weight makes me more vulnerable than both of my health conditions?!

[Moriasroses]

Okay, so I’m 35.

My BMI is 38 I have asthma and I have rheumatoid arthritis.

I saw a post on here yesterday and someone had posted a link to a Covid risk calculator.

I done it several times and my risk is lower at a lower weight.

So even at my current weight, with no health conditions I would be at more risk than if I was skinner with my health conditions.

This doesn’t seem right. Does it?!

@MacbookHo

Post withdrawn at poster's request

I’d guess it’s the fact you said yourself that you’re obese and suffering from arthritis and asthma.

OP has rheumatoid arthritis. That is not a condition brought on by being unfit. It may mean that exercise is more difficult for her if that's what you mean.

Yes, with a few exceptions, obesity is the biggest risk factor for COVID. It's alarming. Those I've treated who have recovered, vs those who haven't (either long term issues or death) and are not 70+ has been obesity.

As a formally obese person (and now merely 'overweight') it was a bit alarming.

@VanityWitch

It may mean that exercise is more difficult for her if that's what you mean.

Yes, that’s what I meant.

That's really interesting @Cloudhopping. I remember using a calculator for my risk factors earlier in the summer and working out that my BMI really didn't make much difference. It was something like the difference between a 0.5% chance of dying and a 0.8% chance of dying if I lost 5 stone. Since then I've put it out of my mind and chalked it up to something I needn't worry about but now it seems scientists know a lot more than they did just a few months ago.

I do agree with OP that the change is very surprising and also one which isn't well published. I think lots of us calculated our risk in the early days of the pandemic and assume it's stayed the same so we never rethink it. Other posters in here who are bashing overweight people for not realising this should remember that scientists fed us the wrong info early on (although it was the best they knew at the time obviously).

I won't be recalculating my risks just yet as I'm undergoing ED treatment and I'm not allowed to diet or obsess over food as part of the process, so what's the point in scaring myself when I can't do anything about it. Hopefully the treatment leads to eventual weight loss in the longer term though.

@MrsMigginsMate

Another great post *@PuzzledObserver*, wise words and I agree wholeheartedly. People need to take off their judgey pants and be more kind, there are so many reasons leading to weight gain, it's not as black and white as "put down the fork".

@MrsMigginsMate

I’m really grateful that people like you can acknowledge this.

PP asked if I’m receiving support for PND.
Yes, I am. I’m having therapy and I’m currently working my way around taking comfort in food.

I guess in normal times if I’d gained well over 3 stone in 18 months I would be a lot harder on myself and stricter.

But in the last 18 months, I was hospitalised whilst pregnant.
I’ve given birth, 5 weeks later the pandemic hit, I was diagnosed with PND and I became close to being admitted to a mother and baby unit as I was desperately unwell.
Thankfully I avoided it and have had some great support.

I hold my hands up and say I turned to food for comfort during a very difficult time.
There are so many substances I could’ve turned to instead. Drugs, alcohol, cigarettes...

So many people assume that overweight / obese people are just lazy who eat too much instead of actually realising that there could be a much deeper reason for it.

@MacbookHo

What makes you assume I’m not fit?!

I’d guess it’s the fact you said yourself that you’re obese and suffering from arthritis and asthma.

@MacbookHo

I’ve had asthma since childhood.
I was diagnosed with RA at the age of 27.

Both of these things occurred before I was ever in the obese category.

Or do you assume that all people with asthma & arthritis are unfit.

Prior to having my son I did regular exercise even with RA and asthma.

@Hotcuppatea

I do wonder if the poor outcomes being seen in the US are a result of the high numbers of obese people over there. Next to no publicly funded health care can't help either, but BMI must come into it too.

As far as I know from this link, The UK's death rate is slightly higher the the USA's. Although I've not looked at any other source/excess death rate so happy to be corrected.

ourworldindata.org/coronavirus-data-explorer?zoomToSelection=true&time=2020-03-01..latest&country=IND~USA~GBR~CAN~DEU~FRA&region=World&casesMetric=true&interval=smoothed&perCapita=true&smoothing=7&pickerMetric=total_cases&pickerSort=desc

@Lougle

"An extra person at 5 stone... confused Well I don’t know adults that weigh that, Unless you mean a MN keyboard warrior sitting there eating it’s leaf and telling other people they’re outrageous for gaining weight."

If you read my post again, I said that you were double the lowest healthy weight for your height, which is like carrying an extra person. The lowest healthy weight for your height is 7st 3lb. You are 14st 11lb. That's (5lbs over) double the lowest healthy weight for your height.

Agree with this. I’m 5ft2 and 8stone after having a baby 5 months ago. Should be lower really. Before baby was under 8 stone always and that made my BMI healthy not underweight.

Very interesting about obesity being such a significant risk factor.

How would people on here, who are particularly concerned about the OP's weight and with the risk obesity poses, would support people with obesity being allowed to shield and receiving financial support to do so? Just out of interest; I'm not obese. Until they can lose weight obviously, which again, they may need support with, as it is a "health condition" after all.

The sooner the UK stops normalising being over weight/obese the better.

Medical conditions aside - there's no reason for it. And everyone seems to have an excuse or a reason why they have ended up that way. It doesn't happen overnight and is a conscious decision to let it happen to you.

I've put on weight in various stages throughout my life. But I get to a point where enough is enough and do something about it.

Oh and this is my fourth baby and I honestly still feel I’m not the best weight for my height as 5ft 2 is very short lol. I just need to get into a routine and find time to exercise and hopefully should do the trick. But hard with 4 kids though.

I think you’re very sensitive about your weight, which most people are.

Yes your weight is a bigger health risk than your other conditions. If you loose weight hour other conditions will also likely lessen as weight will excaberate them sadly.

I think it’s great you’re confident in how you look, but you are obese, and only about 9 pounds off morbidly obese, the most severe category there is, and a bmi of forty.

I think as others said, the fact weight is your biggest risk is a positive, you can do something about this. That’s how I would view it.

Mumsnetters tend to tell it straight, they will tell you what your best friend won’t. Some will be a bit mean, others will try to be your best friend, but the majority in the middle will simply be honest.

Often honestly really isn’t what you want to hear,

I think that is the opposite. You find that many obese people avoid health care purely due to the weight stigma. This in turn results in poorer outcomes. Concerns around health are often dismissed due to weight without being investigated further, when this is not always the case.

Its not like as an obese person you are not aware of the health risks of being obese. You are fat not blind. You know you are obese. If you want to know about diets ask a fat person!

Vile thread.

Let’s all bully a new mum suffering with PND.

Does it really matter if you’re the same height as someone, does that mean you should both be exactly the same weight. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Don’t compare your situation to another that is so majorly different to your own.

I'm another who thinks that someone who is 5ft 2 and nearly 15st can't be a size 16? I am the same height and 3 stones lighter and am a size 14 - shapes can't vary that much!

@vonny63

You are fat not blind

Awful.

How can people seriously be so cruel. You seriously should be ashamed.

Hang on, I'm 4 stone lighter than that and a size 14!

@VanityWitch

Very interesting about obesity being such a significant risk factor.

How would people on here, who are particularly concerned about the OP's weight and with the risk obesity poses, would support people with obesity being allowed to shield and receiving financial support to do so? Just out of interest; I'm not obese. Until they can lose weight obviously, which again, they may need support with, as it is a "health condition" after all.

How many*, not how would!

In context.
5'4 8st 7 before pregnancy with a almost 9lb baby i was 11st at full term. and back down to under 9st in 2w. (Breastfeeding). People have different frames but 11st at 5" 2 isnt slim. (Not having a go as ive gained weight since then)
Its not surprising weight would.be a bigger risk as in everyday life being overweight is likely a larger risk than asthma. (Mild anyway).and more people difference dying of it than asthma as a lot die of diabetes etc.
It is a little crazy though that bmi can put people into the category for vax with the 70yo

Drs dont tend to mention how weight affects your issues.
Dp bmi 30
Infertile (yet not 1 mention!)
Slipped disc again not a word.
And yet both can be severely affected by weight and because the drs didnt say anything he wont lose weight. rubbish really as women with bmi 30 had to lose weight before ivf.

@Passmeabottlemrjones

I'm another who thinks that someone who is 5ft 2 and nearly 15st can't be a size 16? I am the same height and 3 stones lighter and am a size 14 - shapes can't vary that much!

@Passmeabottlemrjones

Here is a picture of my at my brothers socially distanced wedding.

Size 16 dress.

I’m not 15stone. I’m 14st 11 😉

@VanityWitch

Very interesting about obesity being such a significant risk factor.

How would people on here, who are particularly concerned about the OP's weight and with the risk obesity poses, would support people with obesity being allowed to shield and receiving financial support to do so? Just out of interest; I'm not obese. Until they can lose weight obviously, which again, they may need support with, as it is a "health condition" after all.

No, I don't really see why taxpayers should have to pay someone who can improve their own outlook. I think the money would be better spent on those who need mental health support. This has been known since April, that's enough time to tackle this issue, in fact many posters on this forum already have and lost significant amounts of weight. Boris Johnson actually addressed this issue a few months ago so I don't really understand why the OP is surprised. There's been a ton of info about it.

I don’t understand the pic op, it’s side on and half your body, if you want people to comment it needs to be full body and front on.

[quote Dandylioness1]@vonny63

You are fat not blind

Awful.

How can people seriously be so cruel. You seriously should be ashamed.[/quote]
Ashamed? No I'm not. I am fat, I know I'm fat. I see it everytime I catch my reflection. The post was in response to those suffering from obesity not being aware of the dangers!

Of course being fat I am aware, despite what others say 🙄. Yes I am aware of the health risks.

many posters on this forum already have and lost significant amounts of weight

Yes, for now. But weight is very temporary isn't it? So is covid, so if it is a health condition and apart from a very few other things, the number one risk factor, what is it about the overweight that means you think they should have to take such an enormous risk with their lives?