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Original poster

Would you gain weight to become eligible for the vaccine?!

149 replies

sweetlikechamord · 08/02/2021 16:56

I’m 9lb away from a BMI of 40.

As it stands I wouldn’t eligible for the vaccine until my age group (30’s)

If I was to gain 9lb (which I don’t think I’d struggle to do) I’d be eligible.

Would you? I think I’d be able to lose the 9lb again....

OP posts:
Iremembertheelderlykoreanlady · 08/02/2021 18:17

I'm too honest for my own good!

Yep! Seriously I'd give it some thought if I were you

rainbowunicorn · 08/02/2021 18:19

FFS, just when you think you have seen all the stupid questions possible alomg comes someone to trump them all.

I can't believe you are actually serious about putting yourself at additional risk just so you can get a vaccine sooner.

Concentrate on losing weight, it is not just Covid that being so obese causes complications with.

IsitSummeryet21 · 08/02/2021 18:19

Wtaf!

My friend in her 30s high bmi has already had hers.

Original poster
sweetlikechamord · 08/02/2021 18:20

@Iremembertheelderlykoreanlady

Do you honestly think anyone in the NHS is going to have time to weigh/measure everyone and check their BMI is exactly what they say it is, before sending them an invite for a vaccine?

I was very surprised when my GP receptionist made me an appointment to come in to be weighed when I phoned up to get them to update my BMI (truthfully!) I thought they would just take my word for it because they are so busy but they said it had to be do e officially.

To be honest if they hadn't removed asthma from group 6 I wouldn't have bothered.

@Iremembertheelderlykoreanlady

Did they weigh you and update you to group 6?

OP posts:
Original poster
sweetlikechamord · 08/02/2021 18:24

@Iremembertheelderlykoreanlady

To be honest if they hadn't removed asthma from group 6 I wouldn't have bothered.

My husband is asthmatic. Daily steroid inhaler.

His asthma nurse has told him he’s in group 6.

OP posts:
GreySkyClouds · 08/02/2021 18:29

If you’re bmi is high anyway, I think you’ll struggle to lose the 9 pounds, otherwise you would have lost it already!

Iremembertheelderlykoreanlady · 08/02/2021 18:30

There's a lot of confusion about the asthma thing. I think there's some hope that by the time they get round to group 6 it will have been sorted but at the moment JCVI are saying those with moderate asthma (steroid inhaler) aren't in group 6. Asthma UK are working on it apparently. There's another thread running that I started "can someone clarify the asthma situation?" Lots of people in the same boat as me and your husband. Don't lose hope just yet.

They updated my BMI on the system but when I asked about the vaccine priority list she just went all "No comment" on me, which I think they have been told to do when anyone asks anything about vaccines Grin

I'm trying to have faith that my BMI is up to date so will be flagged when it's time for group 6. But I may give them a ring just to check (If I can get past the Rottweiler receptionists! Just kidding they're quite nice actually)

MiddlesexGirl · 08/02/2021 18:33

Silly idea.
I'm not sure the health service would catch up with your change in weight more quickly than the covid vaccination for your group would come round anyway.

TanginaBarrons · 08/02/2021 18:34

I have had binge eating disorder since childhood. I must have been pushing 20 stone at the beginning of the crisis. Covid has given me a kick up the arse like nothing before. I'm now down to under 14 stone since last March, very nearly out of the obese and into the overweight category and am walking 10k steps and using the peleton for 30 mins/ doing strength training every day. I have been in rehab, had years of counselling etc and losing weight this slowly with the background of the shame of putting myself into the high risk category is the only thing that has worked.

Its so fucking hard, but if I can do this, anyone can.

tangoboxing · 08/02/2021 18:35

you do realise that by forcing yourself into group 6 you'd be increasing the time it will take for the next priority group which is 60-64 year olds to be vaccinated. A 60 year old man is at far greater risk from covid that a 30 something woman even if she is obese.

It has been apparent that weight is a risk factor for serious disease - though far less so than AGE - for months. To actively increase your weight to denying an older person their vaccine rather than using the last many months to reduce your weight is selfish and stupid.

yeOldeTrout · 08/02/2021 18:37

are the C19 vaccines less effective in the morbidly obese?

apparently an issue with influenza jabs -- lower BMI better for vaccine to work.

As excuses to overeat go, OP, it's a pretty novel angle you've found there.

myopinioatters · 08/02/2021 18:49

NO. Do I have to get my asthma back to uncontrollable and severe to jump as well? I made such an effort to loose my weight and keep the records of my asthma to get it back in control. I would never make myself worse why would you. 9lbs is a lot.

Original poster
sweetlikechamord · 08/02/2021 18:52

@myopinioatters

NO. Do I have to get my asthma back to uncontrollable and severe to jump as well? I made such an effort to loose my weight and keep the records of my asthma to get it back in control. I would never make myself worse why would you. 9lbs is a lot.
@myopinioatters

My husbands asthma is well controlled. He’s still in group 6 though as he’s on a steroid inhaler.
Think those comparisons are a little different.

OP posts:
kowari · 08/02/2021 18:58

You would be putting yourself at greater risk (and not just from Covid) and jumping the queue in front of a person in the 50 to 65 year old groups.

9lbs is a lot to gain, it's about 1.5 bmi points, why not sim to lose 9lb to get to a bmi of 37 instead?

Original poster
sweetlikechamord · 08/02/2021 19:00

@kowari

You would be putting yourself at greater risk (and not just from Covid) and jumping the queue in front of a person in the 50 to 65 year old groups.

9lbs is a lot to gain, it's about 1.5 bmi points, why not sim to lose 9lb to get to a bmi of 37 instead?

@kowari

I’m so frightened of Covid and even with a BMI of 37 I’d still be at risk.
If my BMI I was 40 but I was vaccinated, I’d have protection.

OP posts:
80sMum · 08/02/2021 19:00

I understand that you feel vulnerable, OP, but I think it would be foolish to deliberately gain more weight in order to hit the 40 bmi level and get vaccinated.

When a person is very seriously overweight, they are at risk from all sorts of other potentially life threatening illnesses. Covid may not be your greatest risk right now.

You need instead to take any steps you can to reduce your weight and thereby reduce the risks to your health.

kowari · 08/02/2021 19:04

I’m so frightened of Covid and even with a BMI of 37 I’d still be at risk.
I don't know the risk at BMI 37, but the risk at BMI 35 is the same as my risk at BMI 18.5. I think it was only increased by 40% from the base risk for my age though. I'm in my 30s too, if you are healthy then the risk is low.

CatkinToadflax · 08/02/2021 19:08

As elderly Korean lady said above, there is currently a lot of confusion regarding whether people with asthma who use steroid inhalers are in group 6 or not. The JCVI seems to have removed certain asthma medications from group 6 and Asthma UK is currently seeking urgent clarification. So it is possible that your husband would have been in group 6 but may not be currently.

Astressedmumoftwo · 08/02/2021 19:13

You could be 9lb heavier by having a big Chinese meal the night before (lots of water weight from salt) and a heavy breakfast, chug some water. Sorted without actually having to gain fat.

SendMeHome · 08/02/2021 19:14

If my BMI I was 40 but I was vaccinated, I’d have protection.

It doesn’t really work like that though, does it? You’d have some protection against getting the virus, but you can still get it, and some people will. And if you’ve made yourself weigh more, you may well have made it a lot worse for you to get over...

It sounds obvious and unhelpful, but I’d really concentrate on trying to lose weight, not gain it. I can see why the idea came to you, but if you’re worried about getting it badly, it’s nonsensical to put yourself at more risk of that being the case.

Especially as they keep changing who is in what group; so you could make yourself heavier and find you can’t get it for a while anyway.

You will get a vaccine. If you get it slightly later but you’ve lost weight in the meantime, you’ll be in such a better position overall Flowers

kowari · 08/02/2021 19:15

Try this calculator.
www.qcovid.org/Calculation

Mangofandangoo · 08/02/2021 19:17

Sorry Op, I wouldn't be worried about the vaccine at all but you should really consider losing weight for your long term health

I don't mean to fat shame just pointing out the obvious I guess

doireallyneedaname · 08/02/2021 19:17

I think you should check out Dr Joshua Wolrich on Instagram. He’s an NHS doctor who strongly disagrees with most of the replies you’re getting. He (quite rightly) states BMI is not a good indicator of health and the stigma surrounding it needs to stop. I think it will reassure you.

CutePixie · 08/02/2021 19:20

@sweetlikechamord

I have. My BMI was 35 when my son was born.
I had PND and my BMI went up to 43.
I’ve been exercising and losing weight, slowly, but it’s coming off.

How long have you been trying to lose weight? If it takes you a long time to lose 10lbs then it would be silly to gain the weight you’ve struggled to lose. If you lose weight then that will improve your health more than a vaccine would.

Anothermother3 · 08/02/2021 19:24

I can understand why you are anxious. You have only just lost the weight. You might still be recorded as your higher weight at the GP and be offered one anyway. PND is awful. Especially with covid. Well done for the progress I wouldn’t gain as it’s a slippery slope.