Obesity and COVID outcomes

[crimycarny]

A Washington Post article today about Obesity being one of the clearest predictors of having complications from COVID-19:

“Eight months into the pandemic, obesity has turned out to be one of the clearest predictors of a difficult battle against covid-19, for reasons that may vary from person to person.”

I’ve always wondered if the high obesity rates in the US were contributing to our high death rate. When you see the rare death of a very young person who died of COVID, they are often morbidly obese. I’m not into “fat shaming” as there are many reasons people struggle with their weight in the US and I personally believe none of them are due to being slobs or “lazy”. We need to make it easier and CHEAPER to eat healthy. Make access to gyms and nutritionists part of our national healthcare. It will save us a ton of $$$ in healthcare costs as well as save lives.

Article is an interesting read but I’m not sure if it’s behind a paywall since I have a subscription.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/coronavirus-obesity-risks/2020/09/04/0f370980-e22f-11ea-b69b-64f7b0477ed4_story.html?hpid=hp_hp-top-table-main_virusobesity-645pm%3Ahomepage%2Fstory-ans

[Throck]

1. I thought age was the major factor?

[Kali]

3. it is or was, but as things move along there is always new information

all of this is new to science and everybody is learning on the fly

[Ms. Toad]

4. The article is not terribly clear

When researchers at Kaiser Permanente of Southern California looked at nearly 7,000 people with covid-19, they found an association between a BMI over 40 and higher death rates, particularly among men and people younger than 60, when they controlled for other weight-related conditions. The latter finding is surprising, because deaths from covid-19 are overwhelmingly concentrated among older people.

Here is the most significant reference to age - and, while it observes the finding ins surprising it does not explain why. It doesn't say they controlled for age-related conditions, for example.

[EX500rider]

5. The avg age people have died in Fla from it is 78 I read nt

[crimycarny]

6. Yes, and were they obese as well?

42% over age 60 are obese in US. So a possible double whammy?

It would make sense to me that obesity is another high risk factor since US ranks 5th in the world as far as obesity goes.

I just wish our country focused more on diet and exercise versus giving a pill. I’m not against western medicine, but the lack of focus on diet and exercise—and making it easy and affordable—is costing us dearly.

As I’ve written before I saw this first hand with my husband. He was diagnosed with type II diabetes and the doctor didn’t even mention diet and exercise as a potential treatment. My husband was terrified of going on insulin so he started walking same day of his diagnosis. At first he could barely go over a mile so he’d do a 1 mile walk up to 10x a day (yes, a bit obsessive). 5 years later he religiously walks 5 miles a day and his A1C is normal, blood pressure normal, cholesterol went from high down to normal, daily headaches gone, no more backaches. I mean, it’s an absolute transformation. Why why why don’t we make getting our society healthier in general a priority? Especially our kids!

[Blue_true]

8. From what I have read, obesity appears to be very high on the list of risks.

Here in Florida, we had a 19 year old and a 20 year old pass away from COVID19, both kids were morbidly obese. A 14 year old had passed a couple months earlier, she was also morbidly obese.

[Kali]

2. I think they are keeping covid info stay free

(not sure because I have a subscription too) it is amazing the amount of info getting studied quickly right now.

[Blue_true]

7. I believe what needs to happen is the school day need to be lengthened

and PE added back in through Middle School. There should be no op-outs from PE without a signed and notarized letter from a Doctor and even op-out kids should do some type of physical activity that is suitable for them.

Second, every kid should get a nutritious breakfast, lunch and afternoon snack FREE (we should stop separating kids who can pay from those that can’t). I consider the nutritious meals an investment that will pay many-fold benefits during the future.

[crimycarny]

9. Agree 100%

When I was in elementary/middle school there was usually just one or maybe 2 overweight kids. Now it seems like close to 30% or higher. PE as well as other electives such as music, theatre, and art need to be made important again. Mental stress adds to obesity rates as well, hence the non-academic electives.

As for longer days, I agree as well. Makes it easier for parents too.

Free nutritious meals for everyone is CHEAP in the long run when you look at all the health problems that are the alternative.