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?

[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]
Ahh I've just realised you're the wide-eyed and innocent Maldives/Swiss holiday poster.

"Waaaah! Why is everyone accusing me of boasting and getting angry with me?" 🙄🙄

Because humans are naturally lazy and love comfort eating. It takes a lot of discipline to regulate your diet and exercise every day, most people will not do that. Also Britain is a nation of alcohol lovers which is very calorific.

Amazing as it may seem, not everyone’s existence revolves around not getting a bad case of covid.

The usual “Oh I’m so slim and fit, I just can’t understand why people choose to be so fat and unhealthy” thread.

Look at the attitudes towards gyms and sports

I was interested to read the post upthread that the link is between cholesterol and covid not weight and covid. That’s a bit concerning for me personally as I do loads of exercise and in a lowish normal BMI but have high cholesterol (and been threatened with statins since my 30s)/

Smoking causes cancer.

Obesity causes increased risk of complications from Covid, strokes, cancer, heart disease, diabetes....

Yet, again, everyone gets angry when this is pointed out.

What are we going to do about it? A nation where 70%+ of my age group is overweight is not a healthy choice.

I don’t get why this isn’t the leading news story every day.

In the past 30 years, this has happened with smoking:

1. banned advertising
2. increased sales tax
3. put written warnings on packets
4. banned smoking in the workplace
5. put awful picturea/images of effects of smoking on packets
6. hid cigarettes from sale

This is because we recognise cause and effect with smoking. Yet every time any mentions weight, it is a case of “how dare you”

@Iamsososoexcited

Smoking causes cancer.

Obesity causes increased risk of complications from Covid, strokes, cancer, heart disease, diabetes....

Yet, again, everyone gets angry when this is pointed out.

What are we going to do about it? A nation where 70%+ of my age group is overweight is not a healthy choice.

I don’t get why this isn’t the leading news story every day.

In the past 30 years, this has happened with smoking:

1. banned advertising
2. increased sales tax
3. put written warnings on packets
4. banned smoking in the workplace
5. put awful picturea/images of effects of smoking on packets
6. hid cigarettes from sale

This is because we recognise cause and effect with smoking. Yet every time any mentions weight, it is a case of “how dare you”

How exactly do you think that would work with food? No one needs fags to live, everyone needs food.

I have been trying to loose weight for 4 years.
Have tried exercises (which I still do), dieting, fasting, weight watchers and slimming world.
I steadfastly remain 10lbs overweight.
It's not just a simple thing to do...

You cant ban food
Everyone needs to eat

Big need 'northernsoullover' was there any need for this thread in the 1st place for a slim person to point out what us obese people all ready know and make the world even more worrisome for people who are already concerned while she is probably sat bored with a cup of tea finding people to criticise just so she has somebody to speak to!

@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.

Surely anyone who reads a newspaper or watches tv now knows to take vitamin d. Even my mother and grandmother take it.

Because - obviously - losing weight is a mental challenge and not just a physical one. Surely you know this op? If this weren't the case, there wouldn't be a market saturated with diet plans and slimming products. A lot of people are very stressed ATM, and that makes getting in to the right mental mindset even more difficult.

I agree with pp that losing a small amount of weight is achieved fairly easily but people tend not to do it because they think "I can do it later" and then once their weight goes up to three or four stones overweight, it becomes a lot harder to achieve. So the takeaway message from this thread should be: if at all possible , tackle small rises in weight early on. Don't t do what I have done and let it pile on before you take action.

@AccidentallyOnPurpose

It took me 1 year (of pretty miserable,fairly controlled diet ) to lose 11 kgs and I was still overweight.

If you saw me during that year or after you'd just see that I'm fat, but not the effort that went in to be that size. Oh just another lazy,greedy fatty not bothered and not doing everything.

It's not ohhh, I'm swapping to broccoli and there you go, in less than a year everyone is a size 12 and under.

I’ve lost 3.5 stones in 4.5 months. I’m in the same clothes and no one has noticed! BMI 40 to BMI 33 🤷🏼‍♀️

@Iamsososoexcited

Smoking causes cancer.

Obesity causes increased risk of complications from Covid, strokes, cancer, heart disease, diabetes....

Yet, again, everyone gets angry when this is pointed out.

What are we going to do about it? A nation where 70%+ of my age group is overweight is not a healthy choice.

I don’t get why this isn’t the leading news story every day.

In the past 30 years, this has happened with smoking:

1. banned advertising
2. increased sales tax
3. put written warnings on packets
4. banned smoking in the workplace
5. put awful picturea/images of effects of smoking on packets
6. hid cigarettes from sale

This is because we recognise cause and effect with smoking. Yet every time any mentions weight, it is a case of “how dare you”

You care so much about obesity-related illness, that’s lovely to see. Have you a petition we could sign to prioritise the vaccine to those with high BMIs? Have you written to your MP about vaccinating the largest in society first to keep them safe?

Well OP, for starters they could/should allow some sport again

Normally am fit and strong and active but all my favourite activities are now illegal

So I’m home a lot, I am getting depressed and fat

It’s not just diet, I am eating well, but boredom frustration sadness and depression whilst not being allowed to do sport all contribute to drinking an extra glass of wine, or baking (and eating) a cake, and there seems no point in trying to stay fit if this is going to last indefinitely (with new mutations)

Can’t imagine when gyms will open again (ever)

Also smoking causes copd and emphysema which then in turn makes an higher risk to covid which you missed out on your list instead of just putting it next to obesity

Your thread is goady as fuck. Well done. 🏅

Obesity most likely explains why US death rates are so high there

Also, what happened to health drive Boris promised in lockdown1?

@MerryInthechelseahotel

I think if you can't understand then there is probably no point in explaining it to you.

This.

OP I hope that you realise that your judgemental thread will have added to people’s misery. Perhaps you understand that cumulative misery does often lead to comfort eating. The manner in which you have asked the question really lacks empathy.

Predictable pasting OP. The underlying point being that people love to criticise others in relation to increasing their risk of catching covid, but not themselves in relation to increasing the burden on our precious NHS. Unsurprising really.

People have vices.
People smoke >>>>> death
People drink too much >>>>>death
People eat too much >>>>>death
People gamble >>>>depression can sadly lead to suicide.
People have ++++ sexual partners increase risk in STIs >>>> death
People take drugs >>>>death
People do high risk sports >>>>>death.
People drive to fast >>>>> death

You kinda get the picture here OP, I mean good on you if you are without vice,
Just remember 'let s/he who is without sin cast the first stone first' just change the sin to vice.

Also dopamine is linked to alsorts of 'bad' behaviour. It may be in a few more years we will have a greater understanding why some people struggle more getting a dopamine hit than others, and this leads to poorer life style choices. Unlock that key and probably develop a cure to many of societies ills.

There are complex reasons why people become obese and find it so difficult reverse it. There’s plenty of science out there on google for anyone who truly wants to understand this.