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Original poster

Anyone with a BMI 40+ had covid and been ok?

32 replies

HairyFloppins · 07/12/2020 18:15

My BMI is slightly over 40 down from 43 earlier this year.

DH has symptoms tonight and has booked a test. Reading a thread on here has terrified me that I will be hospitalised and ventilated because of my BMI.

Has anyone with a high BMI been ok?

DH has been segregated now from me since he got home.

OP posts:
vonny63 · 07/12/2020 18:20

My mum has a BMI of 47, nearly 60 high BP and arthritis. She had a bad cough, a bit of breathlessness but she was fine

Original poster
HairyFloppins · 07/12/2020 18:26

Glad your mum was fine vonny.

I hope my age of 39 goes in my favour.

OP posts:
Pansypath · 07/12/2020 18:29

Following

Wobblysausage · 07/12/2020 18:34

Me. My BMI is 43 (also working on it) and I have asthma and I was fine. Felt quite ill for the first week but no more poorly than I have been with other viruses and then the next week I had shortness of breath and a really nasty cough.

Original poster
HairyFloppins · 07/12/2020 18:42

Glad you recovered ok wobblysausage.

OP posts:
BecomeStronger · 07/12/2020 18:48

Unfortunately because it was necessary to scare us all into complying, this was painted as a far more dangerous illness than it is. Yes, some people get seriously ill and some conditions make people more vulnerable to becoming seriously ill. Far too many people have sadly died but even in the most vulnerable categories, you've still got a far better chance of it passing as an unpleasant but fairly mild illness than anything horrific happening.

MadameBlobby · 07/12/2020 18:54

It’s an increased risk of a small risk.

I am on a FB group for people with BMI over 40 and there have been people on there got it and who were fine. I’m not sure anyone has been ventilated.

Original poster
HairyFloppins · 07/12/2020 18:57

You are right becomestronger hope we will be ok.

OP posts:
IamaPineapple · 07/12/2020 18:59

I have a friend who tested positive for antibodies after not even having any symptoms and I'd guess her BMI at 35-40. Hope your husband gets better soon and you don't get ill at all.

Original poster
HairyFloppins · 07/12/2020 18:59

Good to hear no one has been serious on the Facebook group. I’m more worried for my dad in his 70s with a very high BMI as I dropped some shopping off yesterday outside. I hope they get a move on with this vaccine.

OP posts:
Original poster
HairyFloppins · 07/12/2020 19:00

Thanks pineapple fingers crossed we will all be ok.

OP posts:
PuzzledObserver · 07/12/2020 19:08

Well OP, someone on another thread posted a risk calculator which takes health conditions into account, as well as height and weight.

With a BMI of 42.9, type 2 diabetes and at the age of 56, it put my risk of death at just over 4 in 10,000. So I’d say yes, people with a BMI over 40 can be OK, and the vast majority will be.

Age is far and away the biggest risk factor.

PuzzledObserver · 07/12/2020 19:10

Just seen your update - your Dad’s age and being male are much more significant than his BMI and they can’t be changed.

ladylunchalot · 07/12/2020 20:14

A colleague (nhs) and her dh both had it in September and they are both overweight. No real major other health issues and they are both fine. Don't get me wrong they were both off for nearly 6 weeks and are still now a bit breathless but they have survived.

womanaf · 07/12/2020 22:50

Having a high BMI massively increases the risk of being seriously ill or dying, but it’s a small risk in the first place, IYSWIM. So you’re increasing it from one small number to another small number. You’re not increasing it to 50% or anything like that.

I keep having to remind myself this too.

Keep working on your weight, and keep trying to not catch it, but don’t panic.

ElephantWhaleRabbit · 07/12/2020 23:01

My uncle is morbidly obese (I don't know his exact BMI), in his late 60s and has a heart condition. He tested positive. Had a mild cough for about five days and is now fine.

Original poster
HairyFloppins · 07/12/2020 23:08

Thanks all for the replies. DH's temp has come down now so hopefully it was nothing and he will test negative.

OP posts:
tiktokmylife · 07/12/2020 23:13

In my 40's, have a BMI of 42 and was absolutely fine when I had the virus. Felt poorly for about a week and took a couple of weeks to feel better x

pintsizeprincess · 07/12/2020 23:23

I needed to see this thread tonight. I'm 46 with a bmi of 42 (which I'm working on) and been diagnosed with t2 diabetes. So major life changes obviously needed but reading the other thread made me terrified that I would have no chance at all of surviving should I catch it. It's very reassuring to hear that other people with a high bmi have had it mildly and have came through it ok. Obviously I have a lot of work to do on my health but it's not going to happen overnight so it's nice to be read that high bmi doesn't necessarily lead to needing a ventilator.. Fingers crossed you are fine OP and your DH has a negative result. Wishing you all the best.

SingHallelujah · 07/12/2020 23:30

A relative of mine is currently in hospital after breaking their wrist badly in a fall.

They are 75, morbidly obese, diabetic and had a stroke last year.

They caught covid in hospital and are currently on day 7, needed oxygen last night but as things stand are being sent home tomorrow to be looked after there.

Fingers crossed they'll be okay.

Returnofthemaccys · 07/12/2020 23:37

Great thread. My dad has a very high BMI 50+ and I'm scared for him. No other health conditions and only in his 50s as had me young.

Original poster
HairyFloppins · 08/12/2020 07:28

Tiktok glad to hear you recovered ok.

pintsizeprincess the other thread terrified me as well.

Sing best wishes to your relative, hope they will be home soon.

Hope your dad manages to stay ok returnofthemaccys.

DH woke up with a temp of 38.5 again and his appointment is at 8am at the drive through test centre.

OP posts:
Bakewell79 · 08/12/2020 10:28

This thread is reassuring, reading the other is scary!

My youngest son caught it from school, myself and hubby never caught it from him but now my eldest son has just been for a test as he has symptoms!

I’m a bmi 41 down from nearly 49 and of course thinking about all the worst outcomes!

I hope your hubby is ok op Flowers

Ponoka7 · 08/12/2020 10:46

I'm 53, I'm on the shielding list because of other health issues, my BMI was around 40 when I got it. I needed antibiotics because it developed into a chest infection. I was rough for three weeks.

Having a BMI of 40 or over doubles the chances of hospital admission. So for your age range that probably takes it up to around 6%. A lot of the deaths of obese people included other obesity related conditions. But still ran at less than 1% for your age group.

piscis · 08/12/2020 10:48

I am sure as other people are saying that you can be fine with your BMI, not everyone responds the same to the virus.
However, my sister-in-law is a nurse in a hospital and says that pretty much all younger people in UCI because of COVID are very overweight or obese, that she has never seen someone young and fit in UCI yet.
So, definitely a factor.