So who has covid? Nov 2021

I work in retail.....exposed daily to pay bills.....

Funny enough, and this has been a surprise to me anyway, covid transmission in retail settings has been remarkably low from the start. Especially as you say retail folks are exposed to all sorts of people in an indoor setting. When lockdown was in full force here and in other parts of the world and (some)retail was all that was open, there were very few examples of transmission coming to light. Sporting events, indoor concerts, religious assemblies, schools, yes, retail, oddly no.

Plenty Wanderer.

Here's one. "

About 78% of people who have been hospitalized, needed a ventilator or died from Covid-19 have been overweight or obese" That's a US CDC report.

Here's another:

Being obese doubles the risk of hospital treatment from Covid-19 and increases the risk of dying by nearly 50%, a global analysis suggests. Oh and the same reoprt notes this on top: They also warn a vaccine against coronavirus could be less effective in obese people. This is based on the fact that flu vaccines don't work as well in those with a body mass index (BMI) of over 30. Now that's from last year, but I'll look for more recent links.

NY Times article:

Though these patients often have health conditions like diabetes that compound their risk, scientists have become increasingly convinced that their vulnerability has something to do with obesity itself.

One from the UK from last year:

The current evidence does not suggest that having excess weight increases people’s chances of contracting COVID-19. However, the data does show that obese people are significantly more likely to become seriously ill and be admitted to intensive care with COVID-19 compared to those with a healthy BMI.

One study found that for people with a BMI of 35 to 40, risk of death from COVID-19 increases by 40% and with a BMI over 40 by 90%, compared to those not living with obesity.

One from the WHO:

Obesity can significantly increase the chances of severe outcomes for patients with coronavirus disease (COVID-19)

British Medical Journal.(with lots of in article links to studies):

Studies in the United States have shown that having a BMI over 30—the threshold that defines obesity—increases the risk of being admitted to hospital with covid-19 by 113%, of being admitted to intensive care by 74%, and of dying by 48%. Public Health England reported similar numbers for mortality, with the risk of death from covid-19 increasing by 90% in people with a BMI over 40.1 This is irrespective of age, as being overweight or obese is associated with worse outcomes in younger populations as well. People under 60 years old with a BMI between 30 and 34 are twice as likely to be admitted to intensive care with covid-19 than those with a lower BMI.2 A report from the World Obesity Federation published on 4 March 2021 showed further trends, emphasising that death rates from covid-19 have been ten times higher in countries where more than half of the population is obese

Basically being overweight and especially being obese is a high risk factor for more severe illness, hospitalisation and death.

Perceptions too. When Micheal Martin got his booster jab last week(?) I noticed the guy giving him the injection was overweight, as was the woman sitting taking notes, both in their twenties I'd guess. I'd be willing to bet a fair number of people would say no way are they overweight.

That report above that noted death rates from this pox are ten times higher in countries where half the population are overweight is a sobering statistic. The possibility that the vaccines may not work as well in the overweight and obese is a concern too. And if someone is obese now and knows that covid is a bigger risk to them it's not as if they can lose all that weight in short order.

Yep the US data is well US data, the land where obesity is a national sport. Though Ireland isn't that much better when over half are overweight or obese. However if you read studies from elsewhere and where they've adjusted for age, obesity rates in the population etc being overweight or obese is a strong risk factor for serious illness and death from covid 19. The BMJ article expands on this and adds links to the different studies. UK stats show: This is irrespective of age, as being overweight or obese is associated with worse outcomes in younger populations as well. People under 60 years old with a BMI between 30 and 34 are twice as likely to be admitted to intensive care with covid-19 than those with a lower BMI. So of two 40 year old guys infected with covid, one fat, one skinny, the fat guy has double the risk of ending up in ICU. That's more than a little significant.