This is a Pandemic of the Obese

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[–]jet199 3 insightful - 2 fun3 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 2 fun -  (2 children)

I've seen someone point out that the proportion of obese people dying of covid was in line with the percentage of obese people in the population before, but not less.

I think there is a certain amount of under reporting with obesity as I've seen a few news stories where people have apparently died without any underlying health issues but the photo shows they were the size of a small truck.

So I think it's likely it's a bit higher than 11%. But maybe not much.

Obvious there's different levels of obesity and counting everyone from just over 30 BMI up to the people on My 600lb Life as the same category probably isn't helping anyone. Likely doctors are seeing a lot more of the latter type of fat people who have multiple health issues on top of the chub.

[–]thefirststone 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

Seems like doctors are eager to tick "obesity" on living patients, but you're probably right that they aren't counting it as a comorbidity. It's likely just missing from the death reports, just like covid is added to things like motorcycle accidents.

In fact, if more covid was added to accidents and things that non-fats go out and do, they would be overrepresented among deaths, which could also explain their low obesity numbers.

[–]jet199 3 insightful - 2 fun3 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 2 fun -  (0 children)

I'm wondering if many of these underlying conditions are associated with low vitamin d levels and other issues with poor diet and immunity. It's then the underperforming immune system which is the real issue in most cases rather than the comorbidity.

Fat people go outside less and have vitamin deficiencies but so do old people and people with cancer etc and they are all groups at risk.