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?

Because there wasn’t much to do apart from eat and drink. There’s still not much to do, but eating healthier and exercising now the festive period is over!

Everyone goes on about other health conditions etc that explain individuals being overweight. But those stats also show that 58% of the 25-34yr olds are overweight/obese, 64% of the next age group... etc etc effectively increasing until the 75+ age group. 75% of the over 64-75 age bracket are overweight! Quite frankly, not everyone has a thyroid problem or is a rugby player. The overweight 25-34yr olds haven't suffered a gruelling menopause. Low income stats are around 17-22% so that's not all of it either.

Everyone pussyfoots around the issue so as not to cause offence but frankly it's inaccurate to say that those who die with "no underlying health issues" don't have any additional factors in play when the person is clearly very overweight.

Yes, losing weight can be hard. Yes, for some people it is harder because there is other stuff going on. But actually, there are a load more people who just really like food, really like booze, and are surrounded by people who really like food and booze. And that's their lifestyle choice.

[quote Iamsososoexcited]@HairyFloppins I think that is normal response. Well done for trying!

Why aren’t more people worried and instead on this thread they getting angry with me? I can’t stop covid but losing weight can reduce how badly it effects you. Why does this make people angry. It is the reality in which we are currently living.[/quote]
Because the whole premise of your thread is that “fat people” either don’t know or don’t care.
EVERY fat person I know does know and does try. Very hard indeed. And many of us keep failing despite trying very hard. And that’s tough. And people like you come along and say “oh but why don’t you bother trying to lose weight?”

Can you see now why people are prickly????

The lockdown isn't just encouraging weight gain (for those who wfh or care for children), it's also likely to be causing vitamin D deficiencies.

What chance does a plump middle aged sunlight deprived person have against this virus? Well, a very good chance actually, but it still sheds light on the medics saying the hospitalised patients are getting younger.

I agree OP, all the previous posters saying they are emotionally attached to food, well yes, but I'm more emotionally attached to my friends and family who I never see anymore.

Eat well
Exercise
Protect the NHS

I have thought this recently. We’ve had a year which is time to lose weight

However it is not easy, people find it harder when stressed, and telling people to lose weight - how do you do that in a way that works

Ooh a Saturday night fat shaming thread. What japes!

Saying obesity is a risk factor of covid is not fat shaming. It’s fact.
OP you are totally right !

Maybe the lockdown police can ban nice food too, stop people eating anything other than gruel. FFS. If you haven't noticed even our PM is fat. It's not about being thick or wilfully ignorant. The one who sounds dimmest here is the OP with the "I just don't understand... " schtick. Seriously. Look into it. Have some empathy and not just judgeyness.

Also if the UK was really worried about COVID being more dangerous to fat people then the vaccine would be given out to people with high bmi as a priority.

@Pinkdelight3

Maybe the lockdown police can ban nice food too, stop people eating anything other than gruel. FFS. If you haven't noticed even our PM is fat. It's not about being thick or wilfully ignorant. The one who sounds dimmest here is the OP with the "I just don't understand... " schtick. Seriously. Look into it. Have some empathy and not just judgeyness.

Yes and the PM openly admitted the reason he got covid so bad was because he was fat. He said he’s lost 26 pounds. Got a personal trainer and been doing exercise. He’s clearly acknowledged it.

These things are ALWAYS started by someone trying to fool themselves that COVID can't effect THEM. It's fat people, smokers, old people etc etc. Judge away and keep your fingers crossed!

@Linearpark

The lockdown isn't just encouraging weight gain (for those who wfh or care for children), it's also likely to be causing vitamin D deficiencies.

What chance does a plump middle aged sunlight deprived person have against this virus? Well, a very good chance actually, but it still sheds light on the medics saying the hospitalised patients are getting younger.

I agree OP, all the previous posters saying they are emotionally attached to food, well yes, but I'm more emotionally attached to my friends and family who I never see anymore.

Which is why you don't understand.

Like an alcoholic with drink. I am emotionally attached to food in a way that you can't possibly understand.

If you asked me to give up everything but healthy food or contact with friends / family. I'm not sure which I would choose.

Obviously this sounds insane to someone who doesn't have psychological issues with food but that's how it is for me.

I'm no less an addict than a functioning alcoholic or drug user.

There isn't much to do other than eat 🤷‍♂️

You're a right goady fucker aren't you.

It doesn't help when they close gyms and it's a quagmire outside.

It'll be worse in 20 years when the covid kids who were forced to stop all forms of sport for over a year are grown up.

@museumum

OP - you do realise than many of us fat folk think about trying to eat less and better for most of our waking hours. I am always tired and hungry and always trying to resist quick sugar fixes. Always. Do you have any idea how stressful and exhausting that is alongside a f/t job and homeschooling? Believe me for many of us it’s really not that we are happily indulging in gluttony.

I’ve been fat since I was at primary school because I was unhappy. Now in my forties I’ve spent decades trying not to be fat. I am intelligent enough to know that I should lose weight and I know how to in theory. I really think my eating is a mental illness. I exercise (running and full on aerobics classes) to mitigate the risk and eat healthy food, just too much of it. I work for the NHS and my borderline obese status barely touched my COVID risk. You’ve got to be carrying an awful lot extra for it to significantly impact your COVID risk. I know I need to do something about my weight, I am trying.

Listening to one of the experts on the stats, David Spiegelhalter (I think that’s his name) on R4, he dismissed the idea that the high death rate was due to unhealthy population. Our death rate is no higher in relation to our infection rate than anywhere else. Our death rate is higher because infection rate is higher.

@Maplebeth

Saying obesity is a risk factor of covid is not fat shaming. It’s fact. OP you are totally right !

Saying obesity is a risk factor for COVID isn't fat shaming, it's fact. I agree.

Pretending not to understand why some people can't just lose weight when there have been eleventy billion threads where people have explained is.

@Iamsososoexcited. People do need to keep raising the issue, even if it is embarrassing.

I saw a man aged 21 on TV who had recovered from covid, and he was fat. He was warning people to be careful and said that it's so serious that during his illness, he dropped two stone... from 19 stone.

Again, he just didn't see the link.

@Emmie2021

Eat well Exercise Protect the NHS

Is this a joke?

Boredom. Less daylight hours at the moment, which limits safe walking for many. I have gained weight since this lockdown. I know it's self inflicted. Once life goes back to normal I will be back to aerobics class on YouTube when all DC are out the house. I was in great shape before all of this. Eating is the only comfort I have at the moment (new puppy means up through the night which also has an impact on appetite). Not easy answer. I know what I am doing is wrong, but at the moment it's making me happy to eat without watching calories. I am sure many are also going through this. It's a horrible place to be.

I am obese. 18 months ago I got down to overweight. Than followed a stressful period due to child's mental health. Lockdown has made things worse.constant battle to lose weight. Even worse an injury has stopped me exercising which was helping. No easy answer but one thing that doesn't help is judgement.

I comfort eat, especially when I feel down. The result of this is I am now the fattest I have ever been in my whole entire life. It seems I have excelled myself in the weight department. I know this is a risk factor for covid but yet here I am stuffing my face because it’s about the only pleasure I have left.

Anyhow, I have actually recovered from covid with just mild symptoms, so thankfully being a fatty wasn’t too detrimental for me.