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?

@ChimaeraEgg Yes I agree, I actually work in research in this area. The majority lose weight in an unsustainable way (keto, counting points, cutting out whole food groups, vlcd etc...) the quick fixes. Very few do it in a longer term way. If they did the results might be different.

@ChimaeraEgg I agree. I also think the problem is that we are attracted to certain types of diets. Diets such as keto 'eat all the cheese and meat that you like' or 5:2 'eat whatever you like between 12-6!' Are much more popular than 'stick to a low calorie diet.' The first two just don't ensure you lose weight and keep it off but they're popular. I don't want to think of a life where I have to calorie count and deprive myself forever. But that is ultimately what it will take.

That's interesting Imissthegym. I lost a ton of weight years ago and then piled it back on again (and then some!), but I'm now focused on sustainable lifestyle changes rather than a specific diet. Progress is slower but I'm hoping I'll be able to keep the weight off as a result. So far, so good. Are there any tips that you can share from your research?

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.

I've always thought that too. Imagine asking an alcoholic to get on with their lives, but only have one glass of wine with lunch and a small sherry at teatime.

I think there is no amount of sweet talk from health professionals or the government that will get people to act on their wight issues. It really has to come from within.

Sadly, not even covid-19 will convince people to loose weight. As this thread is showing very well!

It really has to come from within.

Sometimes the capability just isn't there. I can categorically say that, until I was on ADHD meds, it wasn't for me.

Too many people are trapped in a “quick fix” mentality and doing diets that are unsustainable for them in the long run

Very true, and there's also the thing about expecting the diet "to do it for them" all by itself. It doesn't and it won't, but it took some of us a while to take that on board

It isn't possible for most people to enjoy flavours, look forward to every meal, salivate reading a menu and stay slim

Sorry to be disappointing but some of the biggest foodies I know are also the slimmest, even the one who used to be obese and lost the lot. They reckon that the delayed gratification intensifies the pleasure even more - except that the delayed version's been replaced by the instant one for many these days

@AlexaShutUp

What you are doing sounds perfect. Small changes until they become habit. Calorie counting can be a useful tool initially to get a feel for portion size but don’t get too hung up on it, long term precise calorie counting is often linked to binge eating. We seem to have lost the respect for our body to allow it to be hungrier some days (especially as menstruating females) and less hungry on others.

Treat any over eating episode as just that and draw a line under it. Eating a few too many slices is a normal irregular occurrence that people do slim or fat. Eating a few too many slices of pizza and then eating a tub of ice cream, 3 bowls of cereal and a cake because tomorrow you need to be good or low carb or whatever, that’s not normal behaviour. Binge eating is actually a real problem for huge amounts of people. Myself included.

One thing I find is that overweight people (my former self included) presume that all slim people are lucky enough to be able to eat what they want and have good metabolisms and that they are somehow physiologically abnormal because they are larger. Absolutely not true, it takes effort and will power to get and remain slim but it doesn’t need to make your life miserable.

On a very basic level, increased activity is associated with quicker weight loss but again it needs to be sustainable. Many women I have come across use over exercise as a way of controlling their weight and that too, is not sustainable long term. Our bodies aren’t designed for that level of stress. Find exercise that’s you like and do it a few times a week. Don’t expect that to be effortless though. Enjoying exercise is liking the actual activity itself and the endorphins after, not actually mustering up the motivation/confidence to do it. That’s the hardest bit!

Sorry for the essay!

Sorry to be disappointing but some of the biggest foodies I know are also the slimmest, even the one who used to be obese and lost the lot.

Anecdotes are pretty meaningless here. The data shows us that most people who lose weight regain it. In fact they usually regain more than they lost.

Most obese people are obese because of lack of self discipline

Hmm

Somehow I had the self discipline to quit smoking cold turkey, and work full time whilst studying full time (physics degree) with two young dc.

That ‘self-discipline’ by itself has not helped me overcome my BED though. In fact my perfectionism and relentless internal criticism seemed to just make it worse.

BED (which I think more people have than you or even they might realise) isn’t just ‘oh go on then, can’t resist that bit of cake’.

In my case it’s an overwhelming and constant need to fill myself up to the point of physical pain. There have been times when I have eaten blocks of butter or entire plain loaves of bread and made myself physically sick but couldn’t stop. I keep all treats out of the house (dc get some from the shop if they want some) but when that urge becomes unbearable I just want the full stomach, it’s not about the taste.

@ChimaeraEgg Given you believe diets are futile and that enjoying food goes hand in hand with being fat what do you suggest?

You have lost weight because your appetite has been suppressed thanks to ADHD meds which wouldn’t be available to those of us without ADHD. You are very much making it sound like that’s he only way to do it. Would you suggest amphetamine? Cocaine? Something else?

You can lose weight and if done sensibly then it can be successful. You can then post weight loss, enjoy food. It’s entirely possible, even if that’s just me own anecdotal evidence.

What I want is an understanding that people are built differently. My mum is 5"2 and a size 3 in shoes, I'm 5"2 and a size 6 in shoes. This was before I gained weight. There is no way that we are ever going to be the same size. For me to have a healthy BMI I would have to lose 2 stone, and I'm only a size 12 but my boobs are 38 E. BMI is so demotivating and doesn't account for us all being built differently.

Given you believe diets are futile and that enjoying food goes hand in hand with being fat what do you suggest?

No sorry, that's not what I meant. I totally believe that plenty of slim people enjoy food and stay slim, I wasn't trying to say it isn't possible to enjoy food and also be a healthy weight. My opinion is that it is significantly difficult for those who have had weight issues to do this. Of course it is possible, but the data shows us it is incredibly difficult otherwise no one who lost weight would regain it. Which they overwhelmingly do.

As I said upthread, I believe unless you address the reasons why people overeat, you will not solve the problem. For me that was ADHD. So meds = problem solved. For others it will be many different things. I was not trying to say the only way it is possible to keep weight off is by being medicated.

Although, as I also said upthread, there is a significant correlation between ADHD and over eating, and it is often missed in women and girls.

I think you're right. It doesn't matter if there are complex reasons. People should be able to access the right kind of support to stop binge eating same as if they were seeking help for alcoholism. Overeaters anonymous is a good place to start...

Dismissing weight loss because it's hard or complex in its reason is no excuse not to try. The government should be shouting about this from the rooftops but of course they're not because taking away another crutch would be a disaster for mental health.

Would you suggest amphetamine

ADHD meds actually are amphetamine so yes that is what did it for me!

But wouldn't work for anyone without ADHD of course.

Anecdotes are pretty meaningless here

Even the ones from those who insist their weight gain's different because of x, y or z?

Seems to me posters are only too keen to accept those, just as I once did myself

You can't criticise being overweight on Mumsnet. The mantra is that weight is very complex and no one can be blamed for a lack of self control.

Even the ones from those who insisttheirweight gain's different because of x, y or z?

I doubt most people are aware of the reasons behind their weight gain tbh. I mean the reasons behind the actual reasons of overeating of course.

Also the fact you were once fat doesn't qualify you as the expert (same with me). My view is that you won't solve the obesity crisis without dealing with the reasons people overeat in the first place. You disagree. That's fine. However, it is clear that the current strategy isn't working.

@ChimaeraEgg

Given you believe diets are futile and that enjoying food goes hand in hand with being fat what do you suggest?

No sorry, that's not what I meant. I totally believe that plenty of slim people enjoy food and stay slim, I wasn't trying to say it isn't possible to enjoy food and also be a healthy weight. My opinion is that it is significantly difficult for those who have had weight issues to do this. Of course it is possible, but the data shows us it is incredibly difficult otherwise no one who lost weight would regain it. Which they overwhelmingly do.

As I said upthread, I believe unless you address the reasons why people overeat, you will not solve the problem. For me that was ADHD. So meds = problem solved. For others it will be many different things. I was not trying to say the only way it is possible to keep weight off is by being medicated.

Although, as I also said upthread, there is a significant correlation between ADHD and over eating, and it is often missed in women and girls.

Same issue for me. ADHD and associated binge eating. Meds are helping. No longer feel the need to stuff my face most evenings to fill a void of boredom snd make myself feel better.

@SeeooelllaaaCola I very much agree with that. Peoples frames vary hugely and I think BMI is a load of rubbish. IME those who carry weight in their lower body are significantly heavier than those who carry it around their waist and yet are actually healthier as fat around the hips and thighs is much better for you than fat around the middle which is a indicator of high visceral fat.

I think people do have a “set point” at which they are healthiest and it varies massively. The only way you can tinker with it is to gain muscle which might actually make you heavier but would make you look smaller.

You can't criticise being overweight on Mumsnet

Despite the pages here of people doing exactly that, you mean?

@79andnotout that's great and I used to love lifting weights. But I can't exercise now so... I'm a bit stuck!

@ChimaeraEgg@boysonthesofa That’s really interesting. I wish meds had been a thing when I was in binge eating hell. I’m sure that would have helped a whole lot more than weekly counselling talking about my relationship with my Mother!

It's clear that being obese IS a risk factor in having more severe COVID symptoms if you get but does anyone know why?

I am 55 and obese. I'm dieting & exercising more now to lose weight and get fitter and I'm seeing improvement but with menopause (and anti depressant medication) it's not fast.

My blood pressure and cholesterol are good, I'm not diabetic, my resting heart rate is mid
60s and my Fitbit tells me my fitness is the top end of 'average to good' for age & sex.

With that in mind, what is it about the extra weight that makes Covid strike harder?

I had SO much counselling!!! When I finally got my diagnosis it was like a light went on in my head. Spent most of my life believing I was just lazy and generally a bit shit.