Talking about weight and covid

[Iamsososoexcited]

In the 44-53 age group, 73% of people in the UK are overweight to obese. This is a government statistic according to the House of Commons library.

Does anyone else think this is massively concerning?

This awful virus arrived a year ago. It has a disproportionate effect on people who are overweight and obese.

People are washing hands, wearing masks, keeping their distance, isolating with families to stay safe. Why aren’t people losing weight to stay safe as well?

I don’t understand. It is like being told there is a course of action you can take (losing weight) that will drastically improve your chances of surviving this terrible virus, and yet people are not doing it?

Please help me understand?

100% the taste! Food was my life. I am an excellent cook as well. Proper foodie.

I think it was the dopamine release I was after really.

I think maybe this is the key. It isn't possible for most people to enjoy flavours, look forward to every meal, salivate reading a menu and stay slim. I want someone to come on here and prove me wrong!

I think it was the dopamine release I was after really.

I think this is my problem. I strongly suspect that I have adhd, but not sure if I can face the complex process of getting a diagnosis. I did very well at school, also, which masked a lot of my symptoms, but I always struggled with certain things which I have subsequently realised are strongly associated with ADHD.

I'm convinced my mother has it too.

There is no real dispute about this. Most obese people are obese because of lack of self discipline. That’s all there is to it. A lot of obese people get very defensive, and are full of excuses. I used to be. And we were allowed to get away with it for decades. Nows the time to put an end to this massive ‘emporer has got no clothes’ scenario that we have been comfortable with for so long. It’s a selfish luxury we can no longer afford. We have been in this situation for a year. No excuse for any obese person not to be 3 stone lighter than they were this time last year, and to be 3 stone lighter again this time next year

I think this is my problem. I strongly suspect that I have adhd, but not sure if I can face the complex process of getting a diagnosis. I did very well at school, also, which masked a lot of my symptoms, but I always struggled with certain things which I have subsequently realised are strongly associated with ADHD.

Not sure if an option for you but I paid for a private assessment (but with an NHS psychiatrist) as it was a lot less hassle. I also did very well at school. For years I knew something was not right in my head but I didn't know what. Maybe depression. Maybe anxiety. Maybe OCD.

Then I read about ADHD and suddenly my entire life made sense. The value of the diagnosis was immeasurable to me.

Most obese people are obese because of lack of self discipline

Why do you think they don't have self discipline? What are the reasons for that?

I hate to tell all the smug people on this thread who think they know best, but the current NHS methods of tackling obesity are not working. Lack of self discipline and overeating are consequences of other things. You have to deal with the other things.

There is help England.nhs.uk/diabetes-prevention/

The NHS diabetes prevention programme, for people who Genuinely don’t think they have the knowledge they need to cut calories. But in the end, it doesn’t matter how much information you are given on how to cut calories. You actually need to do it for yourself

Not sure if an option for you but I paid for a private assessment (but with an NHS psychiatrist) as it was a lot less hassle. I also did very well at school. For years I knew something was not right in my head but I didn't know what. Maybe depression. Maybe anxiety. Maybe OCD.

That's really interesting, @ChimaeraEgg. Would you mind telling me a bit more about the assessment process, and also how much it cost?

Feel free to PM me Alexa!

@SeeooelllaaaCola It is absolutely possible to enjoy food, eat delicious stuff and stay slim. It is not possible to eat whatever you want in massive quantities and stay slim.

In the real world (precovid) most people don’t go out for dinner every day so that one meal choice, eating whatever they fancy, is not going to make much difference in the long run.

Eating healthily isn’t a massive chore once you get the hang of it. I never eat anything I don’t enjoy. What’s the point?

It is absolutely possible to enjoy food, eat delicious stuff and stay slim.

I think it is if you've never had a weight problem. If you've even obese it is very difficult not not slip back into old habits.

In terms of addiction it is very unique. Alcoholics, in recovery, should not be drinking at all. But we have to eat to live. So you constantly have access to your trigger substance.

Chineraegg, it is a FACT that most obesity is a result of lack of self discipline. We have been pussy footing around this for decades, with the softly softly language and the politically correct woffle about ‘its complicated’. ‘There are many factors’. That’s not actually true. And we can no longer afford to indulge in this selfish delusion. Lack of self discipline is more than 95% of the ‘factors’ contributing to obesity. It might be an unpopular thing to say, but it’s true

@Rowenasemolina

There is no real dispute about this. Most obese people are obese because of lack of self discipline. That’s all there is to it. A lot of obese people get very defensive, and are full of excuses. I used to be. And we were allowed to get away with it for decades. Nows the time to put an end to this massive ‘emporer has got no clothes’ scenario that we have been comfortable with for so long. It’s a selfish luxury we can no longer afford. We have been in this situation for a year. No excuse for any obese person not to be 3 stone lighter than they were this time last year, and to be 3 stone lighter again this time next year

This is not a fact at all. It might have been for you, but anecdotes do not equal data.

@Rowenasemolina

Chineraegg, it is a FACT that most obesity is a result of lack of self discipline. We have been pussy footing around this for decades, with the softly softly language and the politically correct woffle about ‘its complicated’. ‘There are many factors’. That’s not actually true. And we can no longer afford to indulge in this selfish delusion. Lack of self discipline is more than 95% of the ‘factors’ contributing to obesity. It might be an unpopular thing to say, but it’s true

It's not only an unpopular thing to say, it's simply not true.

Chineraegg, it is a FACT that most obesity is a result of lack of self discipline

I agreed with you that it was. My question was what do you propose can be done about it?

I fucked everywhere in France, it was really safe
^^ I’m still chuckling about this! If it’s safe it’s a good way to lose weight!

Well done to those of you who have lost weight.

For me, it’s about exercise. I’m aware that mumsnet is going to tell me that’s rubbish and it’s all diet but for me it’s really not. I eat pretty much the same all the time. Too much (portions too large, seconds) too many sugary foods, cheese and then a lot of veg, pulses and lean meat/fish.

But my weight depends on exercise. I lost 2 stone (not deliberately) when cycling for a big trip. And lots when doing a sport where I was in the water all the time.
In lockdown I comfort eat and drink too much during the knackeredness and stress of working and home schooling. The things I do - yoga and swimming - are closed. I tried couch 2 5k but my knee hurt so I stopped. I’m pretty inert - I go out for walks with the DC but it’s so slow I’m not getting any exercise. And some days all I do is stay in the house. Pre lockdown I’d still have had a night out where I ate and drunk too much but I’d have a 30 min fast walk into town each way. Now I just do the eating and drinking.
Our only family support which used to enable me to get out we haven’t seen for nearly a year. And we’d normally have quite active holidays but cancelled them due to covid.

Surely you can see OP that so many people are struggling with a lifestyle change due to covid?

It is the elephant in the room at the moment, the b weight and covid link. All these pictures of "no underlying health conditions" of younger people who've died. They did have an underlying condition, they were obese. Obesity is a national health crisis and the current approach is completely off the mark. The clinically/morbidly obese people I know are desperately lonely and come from a background of emotional neglect. Rather than the current obsession with healthy and not healthy over eating or uncontrolled eating needs to be viewed psychologically the way anorexia is. The British attitude to food is very warped and strange, contrasts markedly with European cultures like Italy and France where obesity just isn't as much of a thing.

From a very young age we attach emotions to food in British culture, using food as a reward or treat, making kids finish their plate. Kids eating separate "kid food" rather than joining in with the rest of the family, the middle class neurosis about everything being "healthy". Kids learn very quickly that messing with food will raise anxiety in a parent which in terms of attachment theory is a very effective way of keeping them close by.

All these pictures of "no underlying health conditions" of younger people who've died. They did have an underlying condition, they were obese.

I always wonder about that because surely obesity is recorded as an underlying condition?!

contrasts markedly with European cultures like Italy and France where obesity just isn't as much of a thing.

Er no, it definitely is!

@ChimaeraEgg I find that very patronising.
I have been obese. I also had binge eating disorder and bulimia for a long time.

It is possible to enjoy food and eat sensibly. Maybe not for everyone but certainly it is possible. I’m not saying it’s easy. I’d much rather eat crap all day long but I feel that it’s important for my health not to do that.

Feel free to PM me Alexa!

Thank you, I have done.

If is possible to enjoy food and eat sensibly. Maybe not for everyone but certainly it is possible.

I didn't say it wasn't possible! The thing is, studies have clearly indicated that if those who lose a significant amount of weight, the overwhelming majority put it back on again. So we have to think about what is going on there and why.

Geez OP! We'll thanks! Now you've told me to lose weight I'll get right on and do it! How stupid I was not to have thought if it already! I mean, of course I've not been trying to lose weight for the best part of 30 years! Of course it must be so easy - just go on a diet! Bush bosh bash we're done!

Goodness me OP, what a wonderful person you are, where have you been all my life

@SeeooelllaaaCola

I think maybe this is the key. It isn't possible for most people to enjoy flavours, look forward to every meal, salivate reading a menu and stay slim. I want someone to come on here and prove me wrong!

Not for everyone I know, but I have lost a lot of weight this year on a plant based (almost) meat free diet. I now cook from scratch as otherwise my options would be too limited, and have learned a lot about using spices and so on for flavour, so the food is never bland. I can eat loads as there are so few calories in plants, and at times actually struggle to stop losing weight. (Not trying to be smug honestly, just sharing what helped me as I too have struggled in the past) I have no health conditions, but I am 52.