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?

Fat shaming for coronavirus is about as crass as shaming people with mental health problems for not being able to cope with lockdown.

Both are rife.

Losing weight is difficult. Really difficult.

If I had my way - everyone with a level of obesity which puts them in danger of CV would be entitled to shelter in place, with expenses covered. I'd fling a huge amount of support at them to help manage their weight. Zoom dietician appointments. Socially distanced park runs. Socially distanced gym days. Zoom counselling. All voluntary.

That's what was needed from the start, and we still need it now.

Instead, we've forced obese essential workers to the fray regardless, and the rest we've stopped from exercising, and depressed the fuck out of them so they'll want to eat more.

It's all so fucking stupid.

@Armi I have to agree Mumsnet has definitely become less friendly recently and the Pandemic seems to have made it worse.
I for one really appreciate everything Teachers do. I too an obese and tbh Iknow I am not doing myself any favours reading these types of posts because I have lost weight before. But at the time things were fine at home and I was actually quite proud of what my obese body could still do exercise wise so I was happy and stress free so I lost weight.
I firmly believe that stess and low self esteem is the issue so threads like this are I suspect in some circumstances contributing to the problem.
Take care

I do get the frustration though. The rest of us should NEVER have had everything taken away from us because other people are vulnerable, and I understand that it's tempting to blame those who theoretically could do something about their vulnerability.

But, it's just not that simple, and to be a dick about it and moralise makes you no better than the coronavirus moral panic brigade (although many of them will be fat-shamers too).

So many excuses why some people can't loose weight...

It's sad really, I agree with OP, some of the responsibilities are with us. That includes reducing risk factors.

Thanks @tatutata. I am pretty sure in none of my posts have I been rude, or aggressive at anyone. Yet the vitriol aimed at me for asking why people will wash they hands but not watch what they eat, is incredible.

When you're quitting an addiction to smoking or drinking, one of things you have to learn, I imagine, is to avoid the situations or the triggers that make you turn to the addictive substance, the negative coping strategy. When you use food as an emotional support or self harm to punish yourself for being fat already, or in some other disordered way, you still have to eat, every day. A lot of us on this board also have to prepare food for others, while we eat in a more restricted way ourselves. OP there is a reason recovering alcoholics / users / smokers cut down to nothing: it's safer than trying to drink etc in moderation when that control knob has stopped working. As a fat person who has lost some weight, I wrestle with my choices every day, I feel ashamed every day, I struggle every day. Imagine an alcoholic who has to open a bottle of wine every evening but have exactly 2 glasses. Can't you see it's a mental struggle?

@Paapa

If I had my way - everyone with a level of obesity which puts them in danger of CV would be entitled to shelter in place, with expenses covered. I'd fling a huge amount of support at them to help manage their weight. Zoom dietician appointments. Socially distanced park runs. Socially distanced gym days. Zoom counselling. All voluntary.

That's what was needed from the start, and we still need it now.

Instead, we've forced obese essential workers to the fray regardless, and the rest we've stopped from exercising, and depressed the fuck out of them so they'll want to eat more.

It's all so fucking stupid.

Would underweight people be given the same support? They are also at higher risk.

My Dad is in his mid 50s and very overweight and I'm so worried about him catching it. His wife is a HCP so it's a miracle she hasn't caught it and passed it on to him yet. It makes me feel a bit sick when I read about the link between covid mortality and obesity thinking of him possibly being part of those stats.

The frustrating thing is, he does actually exercise. He went to the gym daily before they closed and can run, lift weights etc. He just absolutely loves food and cooking and frankly its one of the only things giving him any joy at the moment.

I dont know what the answer is but its concerning.

@Paapa i think the idea of helping everyone be the best version of themselves, mentally, physically etc is awesome. I would happily pay for that in increased taxes.

Well when I needed an operation and realised I needed to lose weight to get operation I asked for weight loss support but I didn't qualify because I paid for my prescriptions.
What did I do? I spent a fortune on meal replacements, lost the weight; had the op but 6 months later I was even heavier. Clearly all my fault for not taking responsibility etc but once you get to BMII of high 35etc it is so hard to keep weight off.

Let me point out to you the fact that people are hugely struggling with their mental health right now and just trying to keep their heads above water.
Clearly, this needs to be pointed out to you despite everyone talking about it.

Fat people are aware. As I’m sure you are aware of your failings. But feel free to post about the thing that makes you feel the shittest about yourself so we can kick you to the ground and tell you to improve.

If you would prefer people to be kind - on social media or in real life. Then be that role model yourself. We don’t know anything about what anyone is going through. But we do know that everyone is struggling.

For gods sake, be kind.

[quote Iamsososoexcited]@Paapa i think the idea of helping everyone be the best version of themselves, mentally, physically etc is awesome. I would happily pay for that in increased taxes.[/quote]
I don't think of it quite like that. I don't care if anyone is 'the best version of themselves'.
More about just supporting people so that they're less likely to die of covid.

I'm surprised you're surprised though! I actually think that the hypocrisy of people's positions is the only thing that gets to me. We've always accepted that we pay for services with our taxes that we may never use. I work hard on those parts of my health I can control, because I am privileged enough to do so, and will probably always be a net contributor to the public purse, which I am pleased about. What you have maybe inadvertently done is blame people for often quite complicated life situations that may go back to their childhood. I don't blame people for being fat, any more than I blame people for deciding to see their friends after all, or wanting to live their lives. These are all risks in relation to covid, and they are also part of our normal human frailties, which we are suddenly supposed to shrug off wholesale.
All of it is completely unrealistic and unnatural. We think of ourselves and our families, we justify our own actions, we don't live life for abstract ideas. And yet all of a sudden, supposedly we're all basically communist, and yoked to the common cause of making sure everybody can live.

Great post @tatutata

Either you are a goady fucker or you are extremely stupid that you cant understand that people dont always do what is best for them. As pp said, if you cant understand, I doubt anyone will be able to explain it to you

Are you perfect yourself OP? Or do you not ever do anything unhealthy ?

Why do people
*not eat vegetables
*smoke
*do violent things to each other
*lead sedentary lives
*drink too much

Same answers as OP seeks.Covid just isn't that important.

I was overweight for many years. Hovered between 11st and 12st7 (I'm only 5ft2 so that is very big for my height). Tried keto, calorie counting, intermittent fasting, intuitive eating, all types of exercise. Couldn't keep any of them up.

Then in my late 20s I was diagnosed with ADHD (explained a lot about why I wasn't good at sticking to diets!). Anyway the ADHD med I take can also be prescribed for binge eating. It totally suppresses my appetite. Lost 3.5 stone on it and it has stayed off. It wears off by about 6pm so I usually have a "proper dinner" but during the day I often forget to eat much at all and can easy get by on an apple and a salad. No idea what my calorie intake is but I am a healthy BMI now.

Then be the best version of yourself OP: don’t go around upsetting people.

You must be able to see that you could have written the OP more kindly.

Everyone has a different situation & characteristics to deal with.

I'm massively overweight, lost a stone first lockdown then back to work & stress & over drinking and put it on & then some. I've been doing dry Jan, eating well & doing 10k steps a day. Honestly, I'm glad I'm doing it so far, but life is pretty joyless & if things weren't good with my family I would struggle to be able to do it all. I've lost 9lb & hoping it keeps going at that rate but I know it will slow right down & take years to get get to a stage where I wouldn't be 'overweight'. I was at my slimmest when I got married 10 years but still overweight then. I'm trying to stay on plan until I have 1.5 stone off & then allow an odd treat day to make life more enjoyable. I'm more than aware though that things are more than precarious at the minute & a really bad day could easily have me reaching for a bottle of wine. I feel really guilty for being overweight effectively by choice, but also, if you already have a really busy life, eating healthily can be really time consuming & exhausting.

Crikey I wish losing weight was as easy as saying " oh I think I'll lose weight because it's better for me health wise- hadn't thought of that before " and then just doing it. Food can become an addiction. I would literally give up all my worldly possessions and money to be 10 stone instead of 12.5, but I still can't stop eating too much food. And I'm still 12.5 stone. As PP said if you can't understand this I doubt we can explain it to you. Just be grateful you aren't a food addict like me

Does anyone else think this is massively concerning?

No not really. Fat people will often struggle more when fighting illnesses.

I would happily pay for that in increased taxes.

I would happily pay increased taxes to fund education for the emotionally illiterate in order to help them become more empathetic and understanding of others.

It’s shocked me into losing weight. I’ve lost a stone and a half since the first lockdown and am now in the healthy range. I could see that a lot of younger people getting ill with COVID were overweight & it scared me.