Covid and Obesity

wadacrack · 17-05-2020 11:26am #1

Will this pandemic change our relationship in terms of our own personal health. The risk with obesity now beginning to more mainstream attention here and in he UK.

Healthier diets/less sugar and more emphasis on your own personal health hopefully will be a by product of this pandemic. Not just throwing drugs at yet another health problem . A More holistic approach required

https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/health-family/obesity-stigma-and-vulnerability-to-covid-19-1.4250389

biko · 17-05-2020 11:30am

Then Belgium's minister of health Maggie De Block is ****ed

Dublinstiofán · 17-05-2020 11:31am

Mmmmmm Holeistic

ek motor · 17-05-2020 11:33am

If 'holeistic' isnt a real word it should be :pac:

17-05-2020 11:34am

wadacrack wrote: »

Will this pandemic change our relationship in terms of our own personal health. The risk with obesity now beginning to more mainstream attention here and in he UK.

Healthier diets/less sugar and more emphasis on your own personal health hopefully will be a by product of this pandemic. Not just throwing drugs at yet another health problem . A More holistic approach required

https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/health-family/obesity-stigma-and-vulnerability-to-covid-19-1.4250389

I think people will still want to enjoy life the way they want to enjoy it. Not much point in going out prematurely having suffered exercise and lettuce your whole life either.

I get the feeling from the fitness brigade that they really yearn for this to kill off the overweight people so they can feel smug about it anyway.

Seth Brundle · 17-05-2020 11:34am

Can't help but laugh at this in the thread listings...

wadacrack · 17-05-2020 11:39am

ReginaldSmythV wrote: »

I think people will still want to enjoy life the way they want to enjoy it. Not much point in going out prematurely having suffered exercise and lettuce your whole life either.

I get the feeling from the fitness brigade that they really yearn for this to kill off the overweight people so they can feel smug about it anyway.

Being healthy and a healthy lifestyle is not suffering. How society looks at obesity maybe different after this pandemic. Could be a positive by product

17-05-2020 11:41am

wadacrack wrote: »

Being healthy and a healthy lifestyle is not suffering. How society looks at obesity maybe different after this pandemic. Could be a positive by product

It is if you don’t want to. Exercise is hellish.

_Brian · 17-05-2020 11:47am

wadacrack wrote: »

Being healthy and a healthy lifestyle is not suffering. How society looks at obesity maybe different after this pandemic. Could be a positive by product

Obesity is far too accepted in society now.
Sensible eating and modest regular exercise is all it takes yet so many chose not to and then expect not to be ridiculed for their laziness.

wadacrack · 17-05-2020 11:50am

ReginaldSmythV wrote: »

It is if you don’t want to. Exercise is hellish.

Walking is exercise. Not eating excessively and some movement is all that is needed. Its just a belief system many people have used an an excuse. Every sane person cares about their health as Covid 19 has proven

17-05-2020 11:54am

wadacrack wrote: »

Walking is exercise. Not eating excessively and some movement is all that is needed. Its just a belief system many people have used an an excuse. Every sane person cares about their health as Covid 19 has proven

Large people can’t really walk in public because of attitudes towards them so you need the money and space for home walking equipment. And anyway, walking when you’re not going anywhere is a pain in the hole.

Anyway, the virus is already here to it’s basically too late for anyone to be starting now. If you’d a couple of years heads up it was coming then maybe.

tedpan · 17-05-2020 11:55am

We cut out processed sugar, making the majority of meals from scratch. Down 10KGs since the beginning of March. Depends on the person I suppose.

growleaves · 17-05-2020 11:55am

I think it should be a wake-up call for every overweight person.

Hopefully more people learnt home cooking during the lockdown.

wadacrack · 17-05-2020 11:56am

ReginaldSmythV wrote: »

Large people can’t really walk in public because of attitudes towards them so you need the money and space for home walking equipment. And anyway, walking when you’re not going anywhere is a pain in the hole.

Anyway, the virus is already here to it’s basically too late for anyone to be starting now. If you’d a couple of years heads up it was coming then maybe.

Simply not true. I like to see overweight people in Gym's. They are trying to improve themselves. Its admirable. A virus shouldn't be the only reason. You creating excuses to justify your own behavior I think

Sirsok · 17-05-2020 11:57am

ReginaldSmythV wrote: »

Large people can’t really walk in public because of attitudes towards them so you need the money and space for home walking equipment. And anyway, walking when you’re not going anywhere is a pain in the hole.

Anyway, the virus is already here to it’s basically too late for anyone to be starting now. If you’d a couple of years heads up it was coming then maybe.

The only reason large people couldnt walk in public would be if they are actually too large to walk. Nothing to do with attitudes towards them.

jam_mac_jam · 17-05-2020 11:57am

Ireland is going to have serious health issues with the level of obesity in years to come we are one of the fastest people in Europe. The implementation for the health service in the future is huge.

The chan chan man · 17-05-2020 11:59am

Cooking all our amazing food from scratch, no takeaways, no eating out, walking every day and barbell workouts at home in the mornings before work. I feel incredible, except for weekends like now when I absolutely attack the gargle..

If you’re lazy then yes, lockdown will have a negative impact on your health - But it doesn’t have to.

jam_mac_jam · 17-05-2020 11:59am

ReginaldSmythV wrote: »

Large people can’t really walk in public because of attitudes towards them so you need the money and space for home walking equipment. And anyway, walking when you’re not going anywhere is a pain in the hole.

Anyway, the virus is already here to it’s basically too late for anyone to be starting now. If you’d a couple of years heads up it was coming then maybe.

Large people can't walk in public? There are large people everywhere I am not sure why they can't walk. Every second person I see in Ireland is overweight or obese so I am not sure why you would need home walking equipment.

Stheno · 17-05-2020 12:00pm

ReginaldSmythV wrote: »

Large people can’t really walk in public because of attitudes towards them so you need the money and space for home walking equipment. And anyway, walking when you’re not going anywhere is a pain in the hole.

Anyway, the virus is already here to it’s basically too late for anyone to be starting now. If you’d a couple of years heads up it was coming then maybe.

There are plenty of extremely overweight people walking around my local area and there doesn't seem to be an issue for them

17-05-2020 12:00pm

Sirsok wrote: »

The only reason large people couldnt walk in public would be if they are actually too large to walk. Nothing to do with attitudes towards them.

Maybe in some magical make believe land. Animosity towards them has grown hugely lately too, as threads like this show.

jam_mac_jam · 17-05-2020 12:02pm

ReginaldSmythV wrote: »

I think people will still want to enjoy life the way they want to enjoy it. Not much point in going out prematurely having suffered exercise and lettuce your whole life either.

I get the feeling from the fitness brigade that they really yearn for this to kill off the overweight people so they can feel smug about it anyway.

Do you really think that you have to eat lettuce all the time not to be fat?

jam_mac_jam · 17-05-2020 12:04pm

ReginaldSmythV wrote: »

Maybe in some magical make believe land. Animosity towards them has grown hugely lately too, as threads like this show.

There are overweight people walking around all the time in Ireland. What are you talking about?

Every second person is overweight. Are you honestly saying that them walking is a magical make believe land.

I obviously live there because I see them all the time.

17-05-2020 12:05pm

jam_mac_jam wrote: »

Do you really think that you have to eat lettuce all the time not to be fat?

Lettuce just symbolic of all vegetables and fruits. Except the nice ones like spuds.

17-05-2020 12:08pm

jam_mac_jam wrote: »

There are overweight people walking around all the time in Ireland. What are you talking about?

Every second person is overweight. Are you honestly saying that them walking is a magical make believe land.

I obviously live there because I see them all the time.

There’s obviously going to be the odd few brave ones who will block out the sniggers and abuse. I couldn’t be arsed with it, nor could many others.

This attitude a lot of you have where there’s a new hatred and derision of overweight people building in society does more to hinder people changing their lives, yet you all preach that they should.

wadacrack · 17-05-2020 12:09pm

ReginaldSmythV wrote: »

There’s obviously going to be the odd few brave ones who will block out the sniggers and abuse. I couldn’t be arsed with it, nor could many others.

This attitude a lot of you have where there’s a new hatred and derision of overweight people building in society does more to hinder people changing their lives, yet you all preach that they should.

Theirs been no hatred of overweight people in society

Planet X · 17-05-2020 12:12pm

But......everyone is going around in Tracksuits (sorry...Active Wear)????
Must be the fittest nation around....:pac::pac::pac:

jam_mac_jam · 17-05-2020 12:13pm

ReginaldSmythV wrote: »

There’s obviously going to be the odd few brave ones who will block out the sniggers and abuse. I couldn’t be arsed with it, nor could many others.

This attitude a lot of you have where there’s a new hatred and derision of overweight people building in society does more to hinder people changing their lives, yet you all preach that they should.

No there isn't. In Ireland we don't even know what a normal weight is anymore due the amount of overweight people. It's obviously accepted or there wouldn't be so many.

Stheno · 17-05-2020 1:49pm

ReginaldSmythV wrote: »

There’s obviously going to be the odd few brave ones who will block out the sniggers and abuse. I couldn’t be arsed with it, nor could many others.

This attitude a lot of you have where there’s a new hatred and derision of overweight people building in society does more to hinder people changing their lives, yet you all preach that they should.

This hatred is in your head tbh.

17-05-2020 1:52pm

Stheno wrote: »

This hatred is in your head tbh.

It’s oozing out of a lot of threads here.

biko · 17-05-2020 1:53pm

https://www.latimes.com/science/story/2020-04-15/coronavirus-risk-higher-for-obese-people

The coronavirus is particularly unkind to those who are obese

“Obesity appears to be a previously unrecognized risk factor for hospital admission and need for critical care,” wrote the authors of the study published this month in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases. But that only applies to relatively younger patients; among those ages 65 and older, there was no link between obesity status and hospital care.

https://www.ft.com/content/0409a776-8b85-11ea-a109-483c62d17528

Excess body fat seems to matter more than heart or lung disease, or smoking, when it comes to catching the virus

In France, the US and UK, figures suggest that patients who are overweight are at significantly greater risk. In New York City, a study of 4,000 Covid-19 patients found that obesity is the second strongest predictor, after their age, of whether someone over 60 will need critical care. Surprisingly for a virus that hits the lungs, the researchers say that excess body fat seems to matter more than heart or lung disease, or smoking

Wibbs · 17-05-2020 1:58pm

ReginaldSmythV wrote: »

It’s oozing out of a lot of threads here.

I'd have to agree with R on this. Though we left the Church behind the craw thumping and finger pointing still runs strong in Irish society only now it's over things like the health or not of others, though in the case of fat people it seems to be much more of an aesthetic thing and health is a cover for it. And no I'm not overweight, I'm quite likely to be among the thinnest on the thread.

17-05-2020 1:58pm

biko wrote: »

https://www.latimes.com/science/story/2020-04-15/coronavirus-risk-higher-for-obese-people

The coronavirus is particularly unkind to those who are obese

https://www.ft.com/content/0409a776-8b85-11ea-a109-483c62d17528

Excess body fat seems to matter more than heart or lung disease, or smoking, when it comes to catching the virus

Again, as I asked above, what’s the point in their big ‘revelation’ of that now? Maybe if they had a crystal ball it would be worth knowing but the virus is rampant right now and you can’t lose weight overnight, so it’s pointless.
Not that I’d take it massively seriously anyway as we hear a new study with a different story every week from somewhere trying to keep themselves relevant.
Next week: ginger hair or long toenails makes you the highest risk for the virus.

Stheno · 17-05-2020 2:00pm

ReginaldSmythV wrote: »

It’s oozing out of a lot of threads here.

Even the HSE list obesity as a high risk for COVID

https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/coronavirus/people-at-higher-risk.html

it's something people are talking about. If it were underweight people no one would bat an eyelid at it being called out, but you're essentially trying to claim people on here are "fat shaming" people because they are obese

They are at a high risk if they get COVID full stop, if it motivates them to exercise and eat better, that can only be a good thing

Neon_Lights · 17-05-2020 2:01pm

growleaves wrote: »

I think it should be a wake-up call for every overweight person.

Hopefully more people learnt home cooking during the lockdown.

What good is home cooking if there's no portion control?

17-05-2020 2:02pm

Stheno wrote: »

Even the HSE list obesity as a high risk for COVID

https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/coronavirus/people-at-higher-risk.html

it's something people are talking about. If it were underweight people no one would bat an eyelid at it being called out, but you're essentially trying to claim people on here are "fat shaming" people because they are obese

They are at a high risk if they get COVID full stop, if it motivates them to exercise and eat better, that can only be a good thing

Why though? COVID isn’t coming, it’s here, so there’s zero point in doing it now.

ChikiChiki · 17-05-2020 2:04pm

ReginaldSmythV wrote: »

Large people can’t really walk in public because of attitudes towards them so you need the money and space for home walking equipment. And anyway, walking when you’re not going anywhere is a pain in the hole.

Anyway, the virus is already here to it’s basically too late for anyone to be starting now. If you’d a couple of years heads up it was coming then maybe.

All I'm hearing is excuses not to exercise. Of course large people can walk in public.

Stheno · 17-05-2020 2:05pm

The long term benefits of a better lifestyle?

Not every obese person will get this so if they do something now and in six months time the virus flares up they might be in better shape if they do get it?

I've two.family members with BMIs in the mid 40s range too, I dont know as the subject is verboten around them, but I would hope they are trying to get that down

silent_spark · 17-05-2020 2:09pm

ReginaldSmythV wrote: »

Why though? COVID isn’t coming, it’s here, so there’s zero point in doing it now.

But those who fall into that category are now aware they are more at risk, and perhaps might take more care. Just as someone who is pregnant, or is immune compromise etc. I don’t see the problem.

owlbethere · 17-05-2020 2:16pm

wadacrack wrote: »

Will this pandemic change our relationship in terms of our own personal health. The risk with obesity now beginning to more mainstream attention here and in he UK.

Healthier diets/less sugar and more emphasis on your own personal health hopefully will be a by product of this pandemic. Not just throwing drugs at yet another health problem . A More holistic approach required

https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/health-family/obesity-stigma-and-vulnerability-to-covid-19-1.4250389

I hope there will be changes in the future. I think there was a sugar tax on drinks before this but I was able to see it was a revenue raising exercise. It should have been introduced as part of a broader package against obesity.

Like extra taxes on take away meals
Making fruit and vegetables cheaper
Reorganising shops to take away the sweet and chocolate stuffs from counters and taxing them too or implement a system of no special offers on sweet stuffs
Even coming down heavy on marketing for example cereal ads selling weight loss (what an absolute pack of balls that is).
Introducing a longer school day especially for primary school children with a focus on adding in PE every day and this will help working parents too on the afterschool childcare.

I'm someone who is unfortunately overweight. It came from a history of bad choices. I walked a lot growing up like to and from school because the family didn't have a car. Basically years of eating the wrong foods and carb heavy meals.

I changed my diet over the past 2 years because of dental issues. I eliminated sugar drinks, juices, sugars, reduced carbs like bread, cereals,

Something I love doing now is focusing in on breakfast for nutrition and when I get that right, the rest of the day goes smoothly and I find when evening comes around, I don't have an appetite for dinner. What I've done was essentially flip dinnertime to breakfast. Like I would have salmon with vegetables about 2 or 3 times a week for breakfast. Other mornings, it might be boiled eggs with veg. I target in on breakfast on my main meal. Before that I would have cereal for breakfast and I would feel myself crashing or craving by mid morning.

I also started using the app that came with my phone since February. Its a fitness app. That was an eye opener. I walk regularly and I thought I was doing enough but it turns out the walking I was doing wasn't enough.

Zooming in and focusing on the nutrition especially for breakfast and coupling it with the walking and the fitness app telling me to exercise more, I'm dropping in weight. A little bit over a stone since February. I'm delighted. I still have more to do and I hope to continue going on this path. The best bit is I don't feel I'm starved or hungry and it doesn't feel like I'm dieting and It feel like I'm putting the body under too much pressure or extersion.

endacl · 17-05-2020 2:20pm

biko wrote: »

Then Belgium's minister of health Maggie De Block is ****ed

Maggie deBlock O’Lard?

Obvious Desperate Breakfasts · 17-05-2020 2:21pm

_Brian wrote: »

Obesity is far too accepted in society now.
Sensible eating and modest regular exercise is all it takes yet so many chose not to and then expect not to be ridiculed for their laziness.

Do you ridicule people for their vices, whatever they may be? Do people ridicule your vices? Because you do have vices. They’re a by-product of being a human being.

Obvious Desperate Breakfasts · 17-05-2020 2:22pm

Stheno wrote: »

This hatred is in your head tbh.

I have personally witnessed overweight people being mocked as they exercise. Doesn’t necessarily happen often but it does happen.

17-05-2020 2:23pm

Obvious Desperate Breakfasts wrote: »

I’ve have personally witnessed overweight people being mocked as they exercise. Doesn’t necessarily happen often but it does happen.

For people to say it doesn’t happen in gyms especially is absolutely laughable.

Obvious Desperate Breakfasts · 17-05-2020 2:25pm

ReginaldSmythV wrote: »

For people to say it doesn’t happen in gyms especially is absolutely laughable.

Yeah, I find it hard to believe gyms are exempt.

I saw a very overweight woman being mocked as she swam lengths at a pier even though she gave it socks. I’ve seen runners and walkers have comments made at them as they passed people and things even shouted from cars.

ChikiChiki · 17-05-2020 2:26pm

I don't doubt it happens. The fitness industry has a lot of narcissists. These people even laugh at in shape people to make themselves feel better and highlights their own insecurities more than anything.

**** them.

Stheno · 17-05-2020 2:28pm

Obvious Desperate Breakfasts wrote: »

I’ve have personally witnessed overweight people being mocked as they exercise. Doesn’t necessarily happen often but it does happen.

It's not something I've ever come across but then, I dont do much exercise

And I'm probably quite biased as I'm quite thin (BMI of 19) and particularly with some of my family, anytime I visit I'm subjected to a barrage of questions like

"Why havent you put on weight?"
"Wvery time I see you, you're even skinnier"
"Do you ever.eat?'
"what size clothes are you now?"

Every ****ing time. Result? I dont bother engaging with them unless I have to, and my weight is pretty consistent for years

Same with people I work with, if you refer to me in a derogatory fashion about my weight, I'll minimise my interactions with you

So maybe that's coloured my view tbh

jrosen · 17-05-2020 2:32pm

Im sure some overweight people are mocked, much like other groups in society. There will be a always someone passing comment or judgement. But thats not really a good enough excuse to not look after yourself.

Its been brilliant to see so many people out walking/running and cycling but equally sad to see so many over weight. Taking exercise is good for the soul and it doesnt have to be in a gym. There are many fitness groups now, walking groups, yoga, cycling, boot camps, swimming. The list goes on, not to mention youtube. There is endless hours of workouts there for free to suit all levels. For anyone who isn't comfortable they can work out at home. But every individual has to accept they need to make changes and they have to want too.

Portion control is key, what you eat and how much. As they saying goes you cant outrun a bad diet.

ampleforth · 17-05-2020 2:48pm

wadacrack wrote: »

Will this pandemic change our relationship in terms of our own personal health. The risk with obesity now beginning to more mainstream attention here and in he UK.

Healthier diets/less sugar and more emphasis on your own personal health hopefully will be a by product of this pandemic. Not just throwing drugs at yet another health problem . A More holistic approach required

https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/health-family/obesity-stigma-and-vulnerability-to-covid-19-1.4250389

Exercise and healthy eating requires a lot of effort and does not come for free --- in fact it is damn painful at times. People will always want to stay away from discomfort, its actually part of our basic behaviour. That is the reason why there are more people who are out of shape then otherwise. If it would be easy everybody would look like a movie star and be ripped. Countries that make it socially acceptable to be heavenly obese will probably do not do as well as societies as those that do everything to prevent it --- sickness and early death is generally a bad thing for any society, even if you can make a lot of money from it.

jam_mac_jam · 17-05-2020 2:49pm

Obvious Desperate Breakfasts wrote: »

Yeah, I find it hard to believe gyms are exempt.

I saw a very overweight woman being mocked as she swam lengths at a pier even though she gave it socks. I’ve seen runners and walkers have comments made at them as they passed people and things even shouted from cars.

That's absolutely disgusting behaviour.

ampleforth · 17-05-2020 2:54pm

jam_mac_jam wrote: »

That's absolutely disgusting behaviour.

Listen to music and then, when you see people shouting out of a car, simply realise that they are cheering you...

Plumbthedepths · 17-05-2020 2:55pm

Choosing a lifestyle that leaves you vulnerable to Covid and other illnesses is idiotic tbh.

Covid and Obesity

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