Fat in the time of Corona (fat shaming)

[Purrmuda]

I just wondered how other people are feeling about being fat/overweight/obese etc at the moment?
Every day I see references to people dying with this virus who were obese. People on Facebook quite literally saying things like "they were fat, what did they expect" on obituary notices for goodness sake.
Im obese and like many have experienced name calling in the street, cutting remarks by family and friends, and so on.
Although I am fairly successfully tackling my weight at the moment I have a long way to go before I am anything even approaching a normal BMI.
I haven't been out at all since the middle of March and have even kept an even lower profile on social media than usual. I feel like fat shaming is now completely acceptable and I am worried about life "after Corona". Anyone else?

For me it has just been a massive wake up call to how much obesity is an actual disease that results in being a co-morbidity. My BMI is 33: obese. Over 40 BMI were advised to self isolate before the lockdown.

I also heard from the number 10. Briefing that obese people are more likely to die from flu too.

It makes me think that as a nation we need to do more to tackle this crisis.

I haven't seen any fat shaming.

It's terrible the comments you mentioned seeing. But they must not be particularly nice people or trolls. Ignore the trolls.

Good luck with your weight loss

I've seen plenty of fat shaming. All over Facebook and mumsnet.
Like you I am actively trying to loose weight and it is happening but I'm nowhere near 'normal' yet.

I think the worst bit is people blaming it on overweight and obese people. I've seen quite a few times on mumsnet the notion that obese people caused the lockdown etc. Also the idea that anyone overweight should pay for their NHS treatment

It just makes it all the more important to get into that normal BMI.

People are scared and they like to find ways to ‘other’ people to make themselves feel less at risk. People are doing it with the elderly and people with very minor underlying health conditions too. There are some disgusting fat shaming threads on here too.

You just have to remember that the people doing this are scared and unpleasant. They’re not people you’d want to associate with anyway.

Fat shaming has always been around; I haven’t seen it get any worse.

@tiredanddangerous you worded it better than I did- fat shaming has always been around but not for any worse.

I think so many of us have just let our definition of a normal weight slide and adjust and expand and we've spent a long time saying / thinking, 'well, I'm a bit overweight but I'm not that bad' and 'ok, technically it's obese, but it's just a category, it's just a number, I can still be fine and healthy' etc etc. This has been a reality check. Our bodies aren't meant to carry this much excess fat and when our body is fighting a virus like this one anything that makes that body perform its function less well becomes dangerous very quickly. I started to lose weight in January, I was 14st but luckily as I'm tall my BMI wasn't too bad. But I am now 12st. 8lb and I am still carrying a lot of excess weight. I still have handfuls of grabbable fat everywhere, from knees up to shoulders. I cant deny that my body is nowhere near fighting fit. But for years I've been telling myself I'm just a bit porky, curvy, just a bit overweight, just carrying some left over baby weight, etc etc.

I think CV has been a big, big wake up call for a lot of people about the state of the nation's health.

I haven't seen any of the type of comments you are talking about though. But people are scared and scared people like to lash out.

Have seen the odd comment on social media about obesity indeed being a co-morbidity when there's been a suggestion a larger person had no underlying health conditions. This is often rude and thoughtless on a post about someone's death, but I guess it is factually correct. I think it's actually a good thing there's more awareness around the fact obesity is a risk factor. It'll be the wake up call many need. I say this as a fat person currently trying to lose weight.

I do find the preachy people who've never had any struggle with their weight completely intolerable though. If you've never had weight issues, good for you, but don't pretend to understand the complexities of these issues - mentally and physically. Besides, there are lots of "thin" people who are dangerously fat on the inside.

The fat shaming on MN has been worse IMO. I'm not overweight (but my Mum is, very) and I used to think some posters on MN were exaggerating about fat shaming but now I realise just how much some posters dislike overweight people.

And they dress it up with faux 'concern' but it's just having a dig at the overweight.

Yes, a few very unpleasant people on here have taken it as licence to forget to hide any of what they feel about fat people. They’re a small minority though.

I need to lose weight. If it's a fact that overweight people are more likely to die of CV then it should be a wake up call. And suffer from other health problems. I was doing OK with weight loss before lockdown now have put some back on. Don't blame the fat shamers blame your own eating habits.

@CheriLittlebottom totally agree with you.

I'm a healthy weight and have been after losing 4 stone 3 years ago. However if I died from CV noone would see the bulimia used to control my weight. A healthy weight does not always mean a healthy body, I'm probably a higher risk as bulimia effects the heart in a very negative way. I've been particularly bad during lockdown and have had chest pains but the bulimia is a secret so god knows my risk level.

I've seen the comments you are referring to and find them so appalling. Yes obesity puts you at higher risk, so does age, sex, ethnicity, medical issues and apparently even social status. I'm very much of the 'people do not choose to be obese' mindset so I'd consider it a medical problem, not a personal choice.

OP I'm sorry you've seen such hurtful comments, every life lost is truly heartbreaking, regardless of their BMI.

And best wishes to everybody struggling with their weight and health 💐

I'm not obese but DH is and do I notice this stuff a bit because he's close to me iyswim.

I think that people who looked down on overweight people now have a 'valid' reason to bang on about it. So I agree op.

Wish I could lose the weight. I've got my blood sugar nearly under control (diabetic) on the keto diet, but I'm on so many medications including steroids, the gp even said to me I'd need to almost stop eating. Every single drug I'm on has a side effect of weight gain, and I'm shielding so don't want to go out.
Currently pacing round my garden and looking into getting a rowing machine. DH's bike saddle on the cycle upstairs is like a frigging razor up my arse!

Its made me feel more terrible than I already do about my weight. I have two children with Sen and the last few years have been very hard with them and with education providers and it’s led me to eating too much junk food. I’m really worried so am really trying hard to cut down. And make better choices.

@berrychakewellplease my BMI was 33 last year and I got my kick to lose weight, with a break in dieting I'm down to 27 and not much to go to get to 25....

My kick was photo related, but nonetheless it's achievable to get that down.

To be honest, I think it's a bit of a wake up call to some that being obese isn't ok. If someone smoked 20 a day and got lung cancer, yes you probably wouldnt shame them but there would be an element of 'well what did you expect?!' People nowadays seem to think its 'fat shaming' if they're told they're obese and it could lead to serious health problems and in corona virus case, death. But it's the truth

Well done bakechocolatecake and thank you.

I am hoping I am having the moment right now in my extremely elasticsated shorts and stretched to capacity vest top

Sorry if I offended anyone. But it's a wake up call. It isn't ok to be overweight.

I comments like that about people who have passed away is obviously unkind and inappropriate.
That aside though, fat shaming is being rude about a heavier persons appearance. It is not the same as pointing out health risks to do with obesity.

Obviously more research needs to be done, but Covid 19 is a virus that affects the lungs. Obesity increases pressure on the lungs at the best of times, among other organs, so it wouldn’t be hugely surprising to find out that there is a link between corona complications and being obese.

Here are some facts on obesity in the UK taken from healthexpress:

1 in 4 adults are classed as obese and a further 62% are overweight.This makes Britain has the 2nd highest rate of obesity in the world and the largest in Europe.

48 billion is spent managing the social causes and healthcare of obesity.

There are 7 million cases of diabetes, 6.5 million cases of heart disease and stroke and 500,000 cancer cases linked to obesity.

Hypertension (high blood pressure) was twice as common in obese adults compared to those with a normal weight.

A BMI of over 30 can reduce life expectancy by 3 years.

Approximately 68% of men and 58% of women are classed as overweight, however, there are more hospital admissions linked to women.

Morbid obesity rates have almost triple since 1993. This is a BMI of over 40.

48 BILLION. Please try to see it through the eyes of others, people are crippling the NHS because they eat and drink too much (in most cases).

Obese people have been warned for years about the risk of heart disease, strokes and the million other health problems they are facing.

And now even more resources are being taken away from people that need medical help through no fault of their own because obese people are being hospitalised with COVID.

I dont think it is fat shaming I think it is sheer exasperation. Obviously commenting on obituaries etc is unnecessary and very unkind though.