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?

Yes, largely because they don't calculate calculate correctly.

Are you saying people aren’t truthful? I think they largely are!

Amazed you've managed to be in touch with all obese people and are confidently speaking on behalf of the lot of them. Well done you

Obesity isn’t used as a slur, it’s a medical term which has a unique medical profile and presents a risk to health. It has clear biological markers present on things like hyper tension and insulin resistance. Part of the problem is we don’t view obesity as the medical problem it is, rather we look at it with some moral lens of judgement.

I never judge obesity.

I do judge our public health officials and the quite literally deadly food environment that has been allowed to grow.

Obese people would rather take the quick fix of getting vaccinated than lose weight.

Obese people would rather not die.

Obese people usually have an eating disorder that makes it very hard or impossible for them to lose weight.

Your statement is like saying, 'People with broken legs would rather get a cast than just get up and walk about'.

Are you saying people aren’t truthful? I think they largely are!

No she said they are not calculating correctly. She is right. There have been studies into this and most people miscalculate even when using apps and being totally honest. Accurately calculating calories is actually incredibly difficult, perhaps impossible, outside a lab.

@ChimaeraEgg

Spot on. It’s like peoples morality is tied to their waist line. The fatties are going to hell for their greed! The superior thin ones will be going to heaven.

I'm overweight (2 stone) and battle it every single day. And lose every single day. I tell myself it should be simple but when you overeat it fulfils a deep-seated need - like an addiction. And now I also get to worry that on one of those days that I'm failing at restricting my eating I'll also catch Covid and maybe even die and it'll be all my fault. I'll die of greed.

I want there to be another way but I just can't find it. Every day I tell myself I'll eat less but I can't overcome the urge to feel the way I feel when I've got a snack. And then another snack... If you think it's simple then you're very lucky.

Are you saying people aren’t truthful? I think they largely are!

No, I think it's a combo of:

• people miscalculating (human error and frankly it is actually very difficult to accurately calculate when you are cooking from scratch)
• people not weighing their food and just calculating based on a guess
• people not adding in all the little things - milk in coffee, bits of cheese as you're cooking, bites of kids' leftovers and so on.

I understand why people find diets like keto and IF easier than calorie counting, because there is no weighing or counting involved, but the science behind it is the same. Calories in, calories out. Yes certain calories are better for you than others, but in terms of weight loss, that's all it is.

Obesity isn’t used as a slur, it’s a medical term which has a unique medical profile and presents a risk to health

I didn't say it was a slur, I merely expressed surprise that you felt able to speak on behalf of all obese people. Which your last post didn't answer.

There's research now that shows that sugar is addictive. That includes many carbs like bread and pasta, as well as other processed food.
It makes dieting as difficult as it is to give up drinking or smoking.
It doesn't help when a lot of diets advocate a little bit of what you fancy.
Personally, I consider myself a sugar addict. I can't control myself after the first biscuit or chocolate, so I had to go cold turkey. That's easier said than done.

Strikes me that all those slim people out there who are busy fat-bashing anyone who is the wrong size, must feel pretty lonely if 73% of us are overweight?...

I mean, personally I judge people on how kind, intelligent, funny, good company they are. Not their dress size.

Another thought occurs, that at least the overweight people have the potential to loose a few pounds. You can't change your judgemental personalities.

The sugar addiction myth is a myth, and a tired one too.

www.thedailymeal.com/healthy-eating/sugar-addiction-myth

Is t there a big difference between two or three stone overweight, and five plus over weight? In terms of risk?

@Smiledwiththerisingsun

Strikes me that all those slim people out there who are busy fat-bashing anyone who is the wrong size, must feel pretty lonely if 73% of us are overweight?...

I mean, personally I judge people on how kind, intelligent, funny, good company they are. Not their dress size.

Another thought occurs, that at least the overweight people have the potential to loose a few pounds. You can't change your judgemental personalities.

Also, if 73% of people are overweight...then 72% of covid patients in hospital is about right? Or am I misunderstanding?

Again, my sibling is a doctor in a covid ward and confirms their patients do often tend to be very overweight and diabetic. Or old.

I can't control myself after the first biscuit or chocolate, so I had to go cold turkey. That's easier said than done.

Then you weren't addicted. A heroin addict would sell their body in exchange for a hit. I doubt you'd have done the same for a chocolate hobnob.

If you are addicted, you are physically unable to stop without assistance and treatment.

I think a lot of people with overeating issues kid themselves it is only a certain type of food that is the issue, when really the issue is food itself.

there a big difference between two or three stone overweight, and five plus over weight? In terms of risk

I believe the risk is higher the heavier you are, in conjunction with other risk factors.

An obese 65 year old man with diabetes is at much higher risk than an obese 30 year old woman with no other underlying conditions, for instance.

If you are young, even if you are obese, the risk is still objectively small.

@Smiledwiththerisingsun

Strikes me that all those slim people out there who are busy fat-bashing anyone who is the wrong size, must feel pretty lonely if 73% of us are overweight?...

I mean, personally I judge people on how kind, intelligent, funny, good company they are. Not their dress size.

Another thought occurs, that at least the overweight people have the potential to loose a few pounds. You can't change your judgemental personalities.

I'm overweight. I agree with a lot of the stuff on this thread that you would call "fat bashing".

Every time there is a thread like this on MN where posters are trying to have a discussion on what can be done about the national obesity crisis there will be a couple of posts that truly are fat shaming and many, many posts about how the whole thread is fat shaming. Why can't the minority fat shaming posts be ignored/reported and we actually have a proper discussion? Because it is a serious topic, it needs to be discussed IMO. The NHS was on its knees long before covid came along and obesity is one of the main reasons.

Why can't the minority fat shaming posts be ignored/reported and we actually have a proper discussion?

We're having one. What part of this thread isn't a discussion? A range of views have been expressed.

I also haven't seen anyone deny that being obese is unhealthy or that it puts strain on the NHS. What the discussion is over is how we deal with it.

@MynephewR, I don't see how one person mentioning the phrase "fat bashing", (and certainly, she didn't say the whole thread was fat bashing, she just said all "the thin people fat bashing"), means "oh wail, wail, we can never have a discussion about weight on here wail". We have been having a discussion. A pretty interesting and good natured one, from my perspective. I haven't noticed any nastiness. So, don't worry.

Also agree with you that obesity is a problem for individuals and the NHS. That hasn't been disputed afaik.

@ChimaeraEgg

Why can't the minority fat shaming posts be ignored/reported and we actually have a proper discussion?

We're having one. What part of this thread isn't a discussion? A range of views have been expressed.

I didn't say it wasn't

What I wrote was in response to the post that I'd quoted. I get fed up of posts just shouting "fat shaming" on threads like these. Like I said, it's a serious topic that needs to be discussed.

She didn't shout fat shaming, so don't worry about it.

[quote ChimaeraEgg]The sugar addiction myth is a myth, and a tired one too.

www.thedailymeal.com/healthy-eating/sugar-addiction-myth[/quote]
Sugar does have addictive qualities.
Purely because of the way it metabolises and provides energy.

Stable blood sugars are very important when you want to be healthy.

I don’t think it’s particularly helpful to say to someone who is obese that sugar isn’t a problem if they are struggling to control the cravings that occur because of it

@ParisJeTAime

She didn't shout fat shaming, so don't worry about it.

OK, I won't, cheers for that 👍😂

I think there is a lack of evidence around sugar addiction. That isn't to say it doesn't exist, but I also think that telling people they are addicts is potentially damaging and possibly inaccurate. We don't know at this point. Sugar releases happy hormones which I think is the basis for the sugar / food addiction idea. But, so do lots of things, like cuddles, massages and exercise. These things may also be addictive. But no evidence. Not the same as someone stabbing their neighbour for drug money etc. Not the same. I should know. I've lived with an addict (not addicted to cake) and known a few more. Comparing sugar to cocaine is an interesting notion. People do.

You just have to take a quick glance at any threads about dress size here,to see weight is a complex issue for women.One slightly shallow reason for lockdown weight gain may be the lack of any special occasion to boost self esteem.I can scarcely get dressed some days.