Coronavirus prep
Replies
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Theoldguy1 wrote: »paperpudding wrote: »Theoldguy1 wrote: »Small rant on public health messages on Covid. We hear wear masks, distance, wash hands and those with comorbidities are more susceptible to complications from Covid.
Where is the messaging to take positive steps to reduce comorbidities? Lose weight, positive steps for better nutrition, etc.
My answer to that would be because simple messages hit home.
If one tries to have a message about, for example, getting regular pap smears - one doesnt throw in getting regular FOBT's and regular general check ups and vaccinations, and surgery is open x time to do it and the turn around time for results is x and if result is positive or negative, x is next step and other relevant but TLDR and now nobody is getting any message at all.
Simple poster: get a pap smear every 5 years.
Simple poster, "lose weight, reduce your chance of complications from Covid".
Do you really think that would convince a single person to lose weight?
Is there anyone out there that would say, “well, I knew my obesity could cause heart disease, stroke, diabetes, osteoarthritis, high blood pressure, etc, but now that I know it could cause Covid complications, I’m going to do something about it!”
I just don’t think that’s realistic for an ad campaign. People who won’t listen to their own doctors won’t listen to a poster.11 -
Related to weight. My extended family is like a poster child of comorbidities. So far, I know of one person that has taken some steps (out of like 15 to 20) to lose weight and get in better shape. Most of the rest have packed on more weight during Coronavirus.
I think when you see the pictures of those that have passed, most are elderly or overweight. So unless someone is burying their heads in the sand (which when it comes to weight, many do), they won't listen anyway.
But as a country, we do need to do a much better job in confronting those that are overweight with the reality of their health. In the US, we treat people with kid gloves compared to Europe when it comes to wellness and direct weight counseling from the healthcare community. It's not PC to tell someone here that they really need to lose weight.
I remember years ago when I was at my heaviest and a doc said, "well, you'll likely die from your heart stopping, like most of us". I felt he was kind of being trite and evasive. I was looking for someone to tell me, "yeah buddy, you better lose weight or bad things will happen...". Doctors, at least here in the US, are much more hesitant to have that conversation than in other countries. Likely because they get so much pushback. Also, our entire medical system, with it being a paid model with very little wellness care, is severely broken. We concentrate on acute care and emergencies only.13 -
MikePfirrman wrote: »Related to weight. My extended family is like a poster child of comorbidities. So far, I know of one person that has taken some steps (out of like 15 to 20) to lose weight and get in better shape. Most of the rest have packed on more weight during Coronavirus.
I think when you see the pictures of those that have passed, most are elderly or overweight. So unless someone is burying their heads in the sand (which when it comes to weight, many do), they won't listen anyway.
But as a country, we do need to do a much better job in confronting those that are overweight with the reality of their health. In the US, we treat people with kid gloves compared to Europe when it comes to wellness and direct weight counseling from the healthcare community. It's not PC to tell someone here that they really need to lose weight.
I remember years ago when I was at my heaviest and a doc said, "well, you'll likely die from your heart stopping, like most of us". I felt he was kind of being trite and evasive. I was looking for someone to tell me, "yeah buddy, you better lose weight or bad things will happen...". Doctors, at least here in the US, are much more hesitant to have that conversation than in other countries. Likely because they get so much pushback. Also, our entire medical system, with it being a paid model with very little wellness care, is severely broken. We concentrate on acute care and emergencies only.
JW, where are you seeing photos of people who died of covid?2 -
missysippy930 wrote: »MikePfirrman wrote: »Related to weight. My extended family is like a poster child of comorbidities. So far, I know of one person that has taken some steps (out of like 15 to 20) to lose weight and get in better shape. Most of the rest have packed on more weight during Coronavirus.
I think when you see the pictures of those that have passed, most are elderly or overweight. So unless someone is burying their heads in the sand (which when it comes to weight, many do), they won't listen anyway.
But as a country, we do need to do a much better job in confronting those that are overweight with the reality of their health. In the US, we treat people with kid gloves compared to Europe when it comes to wellness and direct weight counseling from the healthcare community. It's not PC to tell someone here that they really need to lose weight.
I remember years ago when I was at my heaviest and a doc said, "well, you'll likely die from your heart stopping, like most of us". I felt he was kind of being trite and evasive. I was looking for someone to tell me, "yeah buddy, you better lose weight or bad things will happen...". Doctors, at least here in the US, are much more hesitant to have that conversation than in other countries. Likely because they get so much pushback. Also, our entire medical system, with it being a paid model with very little wellness care, is severely broken. We concentrate on acute care and emergencies only.
JW, where are you seeing photos of people who died of covid?
Our local newscast and newspapers have stories every day about people who died of Covid. That's obviously just a small sampling, but I agree with Mike's observation.6 -
SuzySunshine99 wrote: »missysippy930 wrote: »MikePfirrman wrote: »Related to weight. My extended family is like a poster child of comorbidities. So far, I know of one person that has taken some steps (out of like 15 to 20) to lose weight and get in better shape. Most of the rest have packed on more weight during Coronavirus.
I think when you see the pictures of those that have passed, most are elderly or overweight. So unless someone is burying their heads in the sand (which when it comes to weight, many do), they won't listen anyway.
But as a country, we do need to do a much better job in confronting those that are overweight with the reality of their health. In the US, we treat people with kid gloves compared to Europe when it comes to wellness and direct weight counseling from the healthcare community. It's not PC to tell someone here that they really need to lose weight.
I remember years ago when I was at my heaviest and a doc said, "well, you'll likely die from your heart stopping, like most of us". I felt he was kind of being trite and evasive. I was looking for someone to tell me, "yeah buddy, you better lose weight or bad things will happen...". Doctors, at least here in the US, are much more hesitant to have that conversation than in other countries. Likely because they get so much pushback. Also, our entire medical system, with it being a paid model with very little wellness care, is severely broken. We concentrate on acute care and emergencies only.
JW, where are you seeing photos of people who died of covid?
Our local newscast and newspapers have stories every day about people who died of Covid. That's obviously just a small sampling, but I agree with Mike's observation.
They do feature people on the PBS Newshour that have died of covid. They are from all walks of life, and ages. I’ve never noticed that they are mostly obese or older though. And it is a extremely small number, 5 people each Friday, that PBS shows. I’ve not noticed any local television reports on the news, other than the stats. I don’t buy local newspapers, but it seems like an invasion of privacy unless families of loved ones are sanctioning photos. I guess it’s hard to accept “most” when in reality, I haven’t viewed anywhere near “most” of the people who have died from covid.
We’re approaching 300,000 deaths in the US. With the statistics of 2/3 of the adult population being considered overweight, logically many deaths would be overweight individuals.
Still, singling out obese individuals for a PSA, as an at risk group, seems unfair. I agree that there may be too much political correctness, but on a multitude of topics, not just being overweight, in this country.7 -
MikePfirrman wrote: »I remember years ago when I was at my heaviest and a doc said, "well, you'll likely die from your heart stopping, like most of us". I felt he was kind of being trite and evasive. I was looking for someone to tell me, "yeah buddy, you better lose weight or bad things will happen...". Doctors, at least here in the US, are much more hesitant to have that conversation than in other countries. Likely because they get so much pushback. Also, our entire medical system, with it being a paid model with very little wellness care, is severely broken. We concentrate on acute care and emergencies only.
This is not my experience. I've never had a doctor who didn't discuss weight (whether to ask me some questions about eating and exercise even when the message was "your weight seems fine, is in the healthy range" or to say (when I was around BMI 26) that my weight was a bit above the healthy zone but given general fitness, tests, exercise, blood pressure, it didn't seem anything to worry about (I was losing then and said I planned to lose more and the doctor asked how much and how I was doing it and was good with that), or, when I was obese, to give me a warning about how it was a risk factor and I should do something about it (and later to seem surprised when my tests were all good).
Not saying everyone has the same experience I have, but I don't think we can fairly generalize to the opposite either. And I know at times I've avoided going to the doctor because I didn't want to talk about my weight (which I knew was irresponsible, but did it anyway), and I've heard the same from another of others. If doctors really didn't discuss it (and I think they should), why would that be occurring?
(Also, people are different, since I knew my weight was too high when it was, and knew I should lose, and having my doctor comment didn't seem like it would be helpful--and was kind of neutral, in fact, since when I was obese I waited to go until I'd started losing. But then I hate feeling like I'm doing something for my own health at the urging of someone else vs. my own decision.)
Back to covid--I do have the sense that people know it's a risk factor and know they should do something about it, but the stumbling blocks haven't changed, and they knew it wasn't healthy before, as others have said. And I personally am one who has found a lot of the stuff since covid to be really playing with my head, so I can see how for some it would be if anything harder to deal with such things. A lot of people have been struggling with anxiety and depression and extra stress and being overwhelmed by no alone time or too much isolation or having to try to teach their kids while holding down a job, etc. I don't particularly see how a public campaign about covid and obesity would have made a difference. (This assumes that most are as aware of obesity as a risk factor as those I know are, and it is possible I'm out of touch with some less informed social circles on that issue, dunno. Some evidence of ignorance on this topic would be useful if it exists.)
The UK had a campaign connecting obesity/weight loss and covid risk, I seem to recall. I guess one question would be whether that was effective.5 -
missysippy930 wrote: »MikePfirrman wrote: »Related to weight. My extended family is like a poster child of comorbidities. So far, I know of one person that has taken some steps (out of like 15 to 20) to lose weight and get in better shape. Most of the rest have packed on more weight during Coronavirus.
I think when you see the pictures of those that have passed, most are elderly or overweight. So unless someone is burying their heads in the sand (which when it comes to weight, many do), they won't listen anyway.
But as a country, we do need to do a much better job in confronting those that are overweight with the reality of their health. In the US, we treat people with kid gloves compared to Europe when it comes to wellness and direct weight counseling from the healthcare community. It's not PC to tell someone here that they really need to lose weight.
I remember years ago when I was at my heaviest and a doc said, "well, you'll likely die from your heart stopping, like most of us". I felt he was kind of being trite and evasive. I was looking for someone to tell me, "yeah buddy, you better lose weight or bad things will happen...". Doctors, at least here in the US, are much more hesitant to have that conversation than in other countries. Likely because they get so much pushback. Also, our entire medical system, with it being a paid model with very little wellness care, is severely broken. We concentrate on acute care and emergencies only.
JW, where are you seeing photos of people who died of covid?
I see news stories all the time profiling people who have passed. They almost always have photos.2 -
I haven't seen photos of people who have passed, but the news regularly has a story about people who have survived after being very sick with Covid & hospitalized & ventilator for weeks, etc. and a lot of them have had obesity issues.4
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One has to be careful about under eating in this Pandemic. Covid-19 mames and kills through inflammation. Foods that causes causes one's CRP levels to rise can vary person to person. Just swapping out highly inflammatory foods for less inflammatory foods can be helpful even if calorie count doesn't drop.4
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I see photos locally of people who've died from Covid (news sources, friends' social media posts). I suspect that those tend to be a slightly more representative (random-ish) sample than what might be featured in a national media series about people who've died from it.
Why? The national news sources I follow, when they do this, seem to make an effort to choose a spectrum of people from the thousands of national cases (choose a variety of ages, races, health statuses, occupations, locations . . . .), and (I suspect) also make it a point to choose some "never would have thought it could happen" cases (younger, athletic, whatever), as a way to deliver the "it could be you" message.
ETA: A lot of the local photos I've seen have been obese/overweight people. Not all.7 -
SuzySunshine99 wrote: »Theoldguy1 wrote: »paperpudding wrote: »Theoldguy1 wrote: »Small rant on public health messages on Covid. We hear wear masks, distance, wash hands and those with comorbidities are more susceptible to complications from Covid.
Where is the messaging to take positive steps to reduce comorbidities? Lose weight, positive steps for better nutrition, etc.
My answer to that would be because simple messages hit home.
If one tries to have a message about, for example, getting regular pap smears - one doesnt throw in getting regular FOBT's and regular general check ups and vaccinations, and surgery is open x time to do it and the turn around time for results is x and if result is positive or negative, x is next step and other relevant but TLDR and now nobody is getting any message at all.
Simple poster: get a pap smear every 5 years.
Simple poster, "lose weight, reduce your chance of complications from Covid".
Do you really think that would convince a single person to lose weight?
Is there anyone out there that would say, “well, I knew my obesity could cause heart disease, stroke, diabetes, osteoarthritis, high blood pressure, etc, but now that I know it could cause Covid complications, I’m going to do something about it!”
I just don’t think that’s realistic for an ad campaign. People who won’t listen to their own doctors won’t listen to a poster.
Anything can be the last straw, that triggers someone to make a change.
I still don't think the odds of success from an "obesity = bad Covid outcome" campaign are high enough to make it a priority to spend money that way, in a crisis.
(I stayed obese for decades, until my doctor wanted to put me on statins, and I didn't want to risk the additional cognitive decline . . . on top of the cognitive decline I'd already gotten with chemotherapy, for the advanced-stage cancer I possibly wouldn't have developed if I had not been obese and inactive. How stupid is all of that? 🙄 No doctor ever told me I was too fat, and should lose weight, BTW . . . which is not to say I'd have listened, if they had. Clearly, I'm a proven idiot.)
I also agree with others who're saying that most people with comorbidities (including obesity) know that they're at greater risk of Covid complications including death, and if they don't, probably have bigger problems arising out of ignorance than that specific one . . . or are intentionally keeping their heads in the sand.10 -
Excess weight carrying as a risk factor was identified early on. Boris lost a substantial amount while he was hospitalised. Hearing the story of someone today, who left hospital after best part of 2 months, he described himself as "a bag of bones". For him having some extra reserves might have worked in his favour, his had been a very close call. May be he lost only two stone similar to our PM.
Regrettably as in all things, there will be outliers who are not in accepted risk groups and still do not make it.
Earlier in this evening UK news, was saying our disadvantaged areas were disproportionately represented in the high numbers, those areas also had deeper cuts in health and other services, I'm assuming this was in the early years of this Government, following the International Financial Crisis and were ongoing in 2019, by % of the previous year, 2018 not having made up any difference. The recovery was not happening readily, people have been said to be no better off than at the start of the crash.
I hope everyone here stays well.2 -
SuzySunshine99 wrote: »Theoldguy1 wrote: »paperpudding wrote: »Theoldguy1 wrote: »Small rant on public health messages on Covid. We hear wear masks, distance, wash hands and those with comorbidities are more susceptible to complications from Covid.
Where is the messaging to take positive steps to reduce comorbidities? Lose weight, positive steps for better nutrition, etc.
My answer to that would be because simple messages hit home.
If one tries to have a message about, for example, getting regular pap smears - one doesnt throw in getting regular FOBT's and regular general check ups and vaccinations, and surgery is open x time to do it and the turn around time for results is x and if result is positive or negative, x is next step and other relevant but TLDR and now nobody is getting any message at all.
Simple poster: get a pap smear every 5 years.
Simple poster, "lose weight, reduce your chance of complications from Covid".
Do you really think that would convince a single person to lose weight?
Is there anyone out there that would say, “well, I knew my obesity could cause heart disease, stroke, diabetes, osteoarthritis, high blood pressure, etc, but now that I know it could cause Covid complications, I’m going to do something about it!”
I just don’t think that’s realistic for an ad campaign. People who won’t listen to their own doctors won’t listen to a poster.
Anything can be the last straw, that triggers someone to make a change.
I still don't think the odds of success from an "obesity = bad Covid outcome" campaign are high enough to make it a priority to spend money that way, in a crisis.
(I stayed obese for decades, until my doctor wanted to put me on statins, and I didn't want to risk the additional cognitive decline . . . on top of the cognitive decline I'd already gotten with chemotherapy, for the advanced-stage cancer I possibly wouldn't have developed if I had not been obese and inactive. How stupid is all of that? 🙄 No doctor ever told me I was too fat, and should lose weight, BTW . . . which is not to say I'd have listened, if they had. Clearly, I'm a proven idiot.)
I also agree with others who're saying that most people with comorbidities (including obesity) know that they're at greater risk of Covid complications including death, and if they don't, probably have bigger problems arising out of ignorance than that specific one . . . or are intentionally keeping their heads in the sand.
Unfortunately the Fat Acceptance crowd has already decided that obesity is not a risk factor at all, and that any correlation must be just fat shaming. Someone who I otherwise respect got into a heated argument about it.10 -
I think part of the reason that obesity gets so much blowback is that weight isn't simple. It's about our relationship with food and pleasure and there's often a whole lot of trauma there. If you can't or won't treat the trauma, then the weight loss won't happen...and if it does, you'll put that weight back on quick. I watched that with my ex. He went into the hospital and spent three months in an induced coma and lost 150 pounds. Another 50-75 pounds, and he would have been at normal weight. And his response? He ate constantly and put it all back on in six months. Because he still had deep unresolved trauma around food.
And of course there's the fact that if you quit smoking, you are an ex-smoker and your risks go down from day one. Wash your clothes, and you don't smell any more. Give it a week to sweat out of your system and no one will smell it in your body. But I've been eating very carefully to lose weight for nearly an entire year, and I'm still fat. I'm not as fat as I was, but I'm still objectively fat, not normal, not skinny. It may take me another whole year, since I can't go to the gym cause COVID, so I have to do it all with diet. And you have to exist as fat while you're losing, and it's not like there's a sign "Don't harass me for my weight, I lost two pounds last week and twenty total so far!" over your head as you walk around in daily life.
People have to get their heads to the right point to work on weight and their relationship with food, and where that is is highly individual. COVID may do it for some. If it does, that's great. Whatever works.
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Theoldguy1 wrote: »paperpudding wrote: »Theoldguy1 wrote: »Small rant on public health messages on Covid. We hear wear masks, distance, wash hands and those with comorbidities are more susceptible to complications from Covid.
Where is the messaging to take positive steps to reduce comorbidities? Lose weight, positive steps for better nutrition, etc.
My answer to that would be because simple messages hit home.
If one tries to have a message about, for example, getting regular pap smears - one doesnt throw in getting regular FOBT's and regular general check ups and vaccinations, and surgery is open x time to do it and the turn around time for results is x and if result is positive or negative, x is next step and other relevant but TLDR and now nobody is getting any message at all.
Simple poster: get a pap smear every 5 years.
Simple poster, "lose weight, reduce your chance of complications from Covid".
Yes if that is the main message you want to convey.
However it seems a secondary message to me..
If we want the message of masks, hand washing, social distancing hitting home, then dont muddy the waters with secondary messages.
Posters work better when simple and direct.
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paperpudding wrote: »Theoldguy1 wrote: »paperpudding wrote: »Theoldguy1 wrote: »Small rant on public health messages on Covid. We hear wear masks, distance, wash hands and those with comorbidities are more susceptible to complications from Covid.
Where is the messaging to take positive steps to reduce comorbidities? Lose weight, positive steps for better nutrition, etc.
My answer to that would be because simple messages hit home.
If one tries to have a message about, for example, getting regular pap smears - one doesnt throw in getting regular FOBT's and regular general check ups and vaccinations, and surgery is open x time to do it and the turn around time for results is x and if result is positive or negative, x is next step and other relevant but TLDR and now nobody is getting any message at all.
Simple poster: get a pap smear every 5 years.
Simple poster, "lose weight, reduce your chance of complications from Covid".
Yes if that is the main message you want to convey.
However it seems a secondary message to me..
If we want the message of masks, hand washing, social distancing hitting home, then dont muddy the waters with secondary messages.
Posters work better when simple and direct.
I totally agree❤️
And if you want a secondary message to resonate with people, don’t single, one comorbidity out. List them all. There’s a lot of risk factors that can cause severe cases of covid leading to death. Even if there is a high number of deaths among overweight people who have died from covid. It’s not the only preexisting factor, or the only preventable one.
Let’s not forget the survivors of covid who are suffering from neurological disorders, some from very mild cases of covid. Take into consideration long term affects from surviving covid may be appearing well into the future. No one knows for sure.
The single best preventative measure, face covering, social distancing, and hand washing. Most everyone can, and should, be complying with this.
Take the time to read this article about what caregivers in ICU units are going through. It’s heartbreaking.
https://apple.news/ArQx9d9CfSvKqfRyNx7DLtw5 -
missysippy930 wrote: »paperpudding wrote: »Theoldguy1 wrote: »paperpudding wrote: »Theoldguy1 wrote: »Small rant on public health messages on Covid. We hear wear masks, distance, wash hands and those with comorbidities are more susceptible to complications from Covid.
Where is the messaging to take positive steps to reduce comorbidities? Lose weight, positive steps for better nutrition, etc.
My answer to that would be because simple messages hit home.
If one tries to have a message about, for example, getting regular pap smears - one doesnt throw in getting regular FOBT's and regular general check ups and vaccinations, and surgery is open x time to do it and the turn around time for results is x and if result is positive or negative, x is next step and other relevant but TLDR and now nobody is getting any message at all.
Simple poster: get a pap smear every 5 years.
Simple poster, "lose weight, reduce your chance of complications from Covid".
Yes if that is the main message you want to convey.
However it seems a secondary message to me..
If we want the message of masks, hand washing, social distancing hitting home, then dont muddy the waters with secondary messages.
Posters work better when simple and direct.
I totally agree❤️
And if you want a secondary message to resonate with people, don’t single, one comorbidity out. List them all. There’s a lot of risk factors that can cause severe cases of covid leading to death. Even if there is a high number of deaths among overweight people who have died from covid. It’s not the only preexisting factor, or the only preventable one.
Let’s not forget the survivors of covid who are suffering from neurological disorders, some from very mild cases of covid. Take into consideration long term affects from surviving covid may be appearing well into the future. No one knows for sure.
The single best preventative measure, face covering, social distancing, and hand washing. Most everyone can, and should, be complying with this.
Take the time to read this article about what caregivers in ICU units are going through. It’s heartbreaking.
https://apple.news/ArQx9d9CfSvKqfRyNx7DLtw
From the CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/people-with-medical-conditions.html
"Adults of any age with the following conditions are at increased risk of severe illness from the virus that causes COVID-19:
Cancer
Chronic kidney disease
COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
Heart conditions, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, or cardiomyopathies
Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) from solid organ transplant
Obesity (body mass index [BMI] of 30 kg/m2 or higher but < 40 kg/m2)
Severe Obesity (BMI ≥ 40 kg/m2)
Pregnancy
Sickle cell disease
Smoking
Type 2 diabetes mellitus"
Please review the list, the only factors one can directly control are obesity, smoking and pregnancy. Other than cancer and sickle cell anemia the other risk factors are all made more severe by obesity.
Never have I said that face coverings, distancing, etc. should be ignored or messaging reduced. My point is losing weight, quitting smoking and improving the nutritional content of one's diet are realistically the only things an individual can do to make the impact of the disease less severe if one should contract it. This fact should be publicized.
I'm well aware of the sufferings of our health care professionals ands pray for them daily. Wouldn't it be nice if there was messaging out there that working on obesity and quitting smoking would result in less serious cases and less load on the health care providers? Perhaps someone at the start of all this would have worked on weight loss and would be 50 pounds lighter they would be quarantining in home due to improved health rather than in an ICU bed if blunt messaging about the impact of obesity and smoking was out there early.
Or are we just concerned with misplaced political correctness?5 -
paperpudding wrote: »Theoldguy1 wrote: »paperpudding wrote: »Theoldguy1 wrote: »Small rant on public health messages on Covid. We hear wear masks, distance, wash hands and those with comorbidities are more susceptible to complications from Covid.
Where is the messaging to take positive steps to reduce comorbidities? Lose weight, positive steps for better nutrition, etc.
My answer to that would be because simple messages hit home.
If one tries to have a message about, for example, getting regular pap smears - one doesnt throw in getting regular FOBT's and regular general check ups and vaccinations, and surgery is open x time to do it and the turn around time for results is x and if result is positive or negative, x is next step and other relevant but TLDR and now nobody is getting any message at all.
Simple poster: get a pap smear every 5 years.
Simple poster, "lose weight, reduce your chance of complications from Covid".
Yes if that is the main message you want to convey.
However it seems a secondary message to me..
If we want the message of masks, hand washing, social distancing hitting home, then dont muddy the waters with secondary messages.
Posters work better when simple and direct.
We pay marketing professional big bucks to get messages to the public. They can effectively get both messages out there5 -
Theoldguy1 wrote: »missysippy930 wrote: »paperpudding wrote: »Theoldguy1 wrote: »paperpudding wrote: »Theoldguy1 wrote: »Small rant on public health messages on Covid. We hear wear masks, distance, wash hands and those with comorbidities are more susceptible to complications from Covid.
Where is the messaging to take positive steps to reduce comorbidities? Lose weight, positive steps for better nutrition, etc.
My answer to that would be because simple messages hit home.
If one tries to have a message about, for example, getting regular pap smears - one doesnt throw in getting regular FOBT's and regular general check ups and vaccinations, and surgery is open x time to do it and the turn around time for results is x and if result is positive or negative, x is next step and other relevant but TLDR and now nobody is getting any message at all.
Simple poster: get a pap smear every 5 years.
Simple poster, "lose weight, reduce your chance of complications from Covid".
Yes if that is the main message you want to convey.
However it seems a secondary message to me..
If we want the message of masks, hand washing, social distancing hitting home, then dont muddy the waters with secondary messages.
Posters work better when simple and direct.
I totally agree❤️
And if you want a secondary message to resonate with people, don’t single, one comorbidity out. List them all. There’s a lot of risk factors that can cause severe cases of covid leading to death. Even if there is a high number of deaths among overweight people who have died from covid. It’s not the only preexisting factor, or the only preventable one.
Let’s not forget the survivors of covid who are suffering from neurological disorders, some from very mild cases of covid. Take into consideration long term affects from surviving covid may be appearing well into the future. No one knows for sure.
The single best preventative measure, face covering, social distancing, and hand washing. Most everyone can, and should, be complying with this.
Take the time to read this article about what caregivers in ICU units are going through. It’s heartbreaking.
https://apple.news/ArQx9d9CfSvKqfRyNx7DLtw
From the CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/people-with-medical-conditions.html
"Adults of any age with the following conditions are at increased risk of severe illness from the virus that causes COVID-19:
Cancer
Chronic kidney disease
COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
Heart conditions, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, or cardiomyopathies
Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) from solid organ transplant
Obesity (body mass index [BMI] of 30 kg/m2 or higher but < 40 kg/m2)
Severe Obesity (BMI ≥ 40 kg/m2)
Pregnancy
Sickle cell disease
Smoking
Type 2 diabetes mellitus"
Please review the list, the only factors one can directly control are obesity, smoking and pregnancy. Other than cancer and sickle cell anemia the other risk factors are all made more severe by obesity.
Never have I said that face coverings, distancing, etc. should be ignored or messaging reduced. My point is losing weight, quitting smoking and improving the nutritional content of one's diet are realistically the only things an individual can do to make the impact of the disease less severe if one should contract it. This fact should be publicized.
I'm well aware of the sufferings of our health care professionals ands pray for them daily. Wouldn't it be nice if there was messaging out there that working on obesity and quitting smoking would result in less serious cases and less load on the health care providers? Perhaps someone at the start of all this would have worked on weight loss and would be 50 pounds lighter they would be quarantining in home due to improved health rather than in an ICU bed if blunt messaging about the impact of obesity and smoking was out there early.
Or are we just concerned with misplaced political correctness?
Whose misplaced PC?
My husband is an essential worker. Six year cancer survivor with a slowly growing cancer at the sight of original cancer that was surgically removed. Being monitored at this time every three months for growth. Untreatable at the moment.
I’m well aware of the increased risks for people with existing conditions you so kindly pointed out to me.
Show a little compassion for others that aren’t able to live up to exalted standards others think they should be capable of overcoming.
Please wear face coverings and social distance. It’s not too much to ask.18 -
missysippy930 wrote: »Theoldguy1 wrote: »missysippy930 wrote: »paperpudding wrote: »Theoldguy1 wrote: »paperpudding wrote: »Theoldguy1 wrote: »Small rant on public health messages on Covid. We hear wear masks, distance, wash hands and those with comorbidities are more susceptible to complications from Covid.
Where is the messaging to take positive steps to reduce comorbidities? Lose weight, positive steps for better nutrition, etc.
My answer to that would be because simple messages hit home.
If one tries to have a message about, for example, getting regular pap smears - one doesnt throw in getting regular FOBT's and regular general check ups and vaccinations, and surgery is open x time to do it and the turn around time for results is x and if result is positive or negative, x is next step and other relevant but TLDR and now nobody is getting any message at all.
Simple poster: get a pap smear every 5 years.
Simple poster, "lose weight, reduce your chance of complications from Covid".
Yes if that is the main message you want to convey.
However it seems a secondary message to me..
If we want the message of masks, hand washing, social distancing hitting home, then dont muddy the waters with secondary messages.
Posters work better when simple and direct.
I totally agree❤️
And if you want a secondary message to resonate with people, don’t single, one comorbidity out. List them all. There’s a lot of risk factors that can cause severe cases of covid leading to death. Even if there is a high number of deaths among overweight people who have died from covid. It’s not the only preexisting factor, or the only preventable one.
Let’s not forget the survivors of covid who are suffering from neurological disorders, some from very mild cases of covid. Take into consideration long term affects from surviving covid may be appearing well into the future. No one knows for sure.
The single best preventative measure, face covering, social distancing, and hand washing. Most everyone can, and should, be complying with this.
Take the time to read this article about what caregivers in ICU units are going through. It’s heartbreaking.
https://apple.news/ArQx9d9CfSvKqfRyNx7DLtw
From the CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/people-with-medical-conditions.html
"Adults of any age with the following conditions are at increased risk of severe illness from the virus that causes COVID-19:
Cancer
Chronic kidney disease
COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
Heart conditions, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, or cardiomyopathies
Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) from solid organ transplant
Obesity (body mass index [BMI] of 30 kg/m2 or higher but < 40 kg/m2)
Severe Obesity (BMI ≥ 40 kg/m2)
Pregnancy
Sickle cell disease
Smoking
Type 2 diabetes mellitus"
Please review the list, the only factors one can directly control are obesity, smoking and pregnancy. Other than cancer and sickle cell anemia the other risk factors are all made more severe by obesity.
Never have I said that face coverings, distancing, etc. should be ignored or messaging reduced. My point is losing weight, quitting smoking and improving the nutritional content of one's diet are realistically the only things an individual can do to make the impact of the disease less severe if one should contract it. This fact should be publicized.
I'm well aware of the sufferings of our health care professionals ands pray for them daily. Wouldn't it be nice if there was messaging out there that working on obesity and quitting smoking would result in less serious cases and less load on the health care providers? Perhaps someone at the start of all this would have worked on weight loss and would be 50 pounds lighter they would be quarantining in home due to improved health rather than in an ICU bed if blunt messaging about the impact of obesity and smoking was out there early.
Or are we just concerned with misplaced political correctness?
Whose misplaced PC?
My husband is an essential worker. Six year cancer survivor with a slowly growing cancer at the sight of original cancer that was surgically removed. Being monitored at this time every three months for growth. Untreatable at the moment.
I’m well aware of the increased risks for people with existing conditions you so kindly pointed out to me.
Show a little compassion for others that aren’t able to live up to exalted standards others think they should be capable of overcoming.
Please wear face coverings and social distance. It’s not too much to ask.
Sorry for your family's issues. Of course wear masks and social distance, but also take steps that you personally can to make the impact of Covid less severe if one gets it.3 -
Theoldguy1 wrote: »missysippy930 wrote: »paperpudding wrote: »Theoldguy1 wrote: »paperpudding wrote: »Theoldguy1 wrote: »Small rant on public health messages on Covid. We hear wear masks, distance, wash hands and those with comorbidities are more susceptible to complications from Covid.
Where is the messaging to take positive steps to reduce comorbidities? Lose weight, positive steps for better nutrition, etc.
My answer to that would be because simple messages hit home.
If one tries to have a message about, for example, getting regular pap smears - one doesnt throw in getting regular FOBT's and regular general check ups and vaccinations, and surgery is open x time to do it and the turn around time for results is x and if result is positive or negative, x is next step and other relevant but TLDR and now nobody is getting any message at all.
Simple poster: get a pap smear every 5 years.
Simple poster, "lose weight, reduce your chance of complications from Covid".
Yes if that is the main message you want to convey.
However it seems a secondary message to me..
If we want the message of masks, hand washing, social distancing hitting home, then dont muddy the waters with secondary messages.
Posters work better when simple and direct.
I totally agree❤️
And if you want a secondary message to resonate with people, don’t single, one comorbidity out. List them all. There’s a lot of risk factors that can cause severe cases of covid leading to death. Even if there is a high number of deaths among overweight people who have died from covid. It’s not the only preexisting factor, or the only preventable one.
Let’s not forget the survivors of covid who are suffering from neurological disorders, some from very mild cases of covid. Take into consideration long term affects from surviving covid may be appearing well into the future. No one knows for sure.
The single best preventative measure, face covering, social distancing, and hand washing. Most everyone can, and should, be complying with this.
Take the time to read this article about what caregivers in ICU units are going through. It’s heartbreaking.
https://apple.news/ArQx9d9CfSvKqfRyNx7DLtw
From the CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/people-with-medical-conditions.html
"Adults of any age with the following conditions are at increased risk of severe illness from the virus that causes COVID-19:
Cancer
Chronic kidney disease
COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
Heart conditions, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, or cardiomyopathies
Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) from solid organ transplant
Obesity (body mass index [BMI] of 30 kg/m2 or higher but < 40 kg/m2)
Severe Obesity (BMI ≥ 40 kg/m2)
Pregnancy
Sickle cell disease
Smoking
Type 2 diabetes mellitus"
Please review the list, the only factors one can directly control are obesity, smoking and pregnancy. Other than cancer and sickle cell anemia the other risk factors are all made more severe by obesity.
Never have I said that face coverings, distancing, etc. should be ignored or messaging reduced. My point is losing weight, quitting smoking and improving the nutritional content of one's diet are realistically the only things an individual can do to make the impact of the disease less severe if one should contract it. This fact should be publicized.
I'm well aware of the sufferings of our health care professionals ands pray for them daily. Wouldn't it be nice if there was messaging out there that working on obesity and quitting smoking would result in less serious cases and less load on the health care providers? Perhaps someone at the start of all this would have worked on weight loss and would be 50 pounds lighter they would be quarantining in home due to improved health rather than in an ICU bed if blunt messaging about the impact of obesity and smoking was out there early.
Or are we just concerned with misplaced political correctness?
"Support public messaging to reduce obesity because of Covid" and "misplaced political correctness" are far from the only thought-options here.
I'm team "would be a waste of money because people are not responsive to messages like that", mostly. We don't have the money to do every theoretically good thing. I'd priortize the things that are likely to work on actual humans, in significant numbers. "Lose weight to limit Covid severity" is not one of those, IMO. ROI = terrible, I think.
Nothing "politically correct" about it . . . pretty cynical, in fact.
("Stay away from obese people and smokers because if you infect them they'll die" might be *slightly* more effective . . . even on the obese people and smokers: How's that for politically incorrect? 😆 Mild social ostracism was one element of the complex of things that have reduced smoking from "nearly everyone" to around 15% (US) over a few decades).11 -
I’m surprised some of the pill pusher companies haven’t jumped on the bandwagon with “buy our pills and lose weight today to
Fight complications of Covid” or something similar.4 -
I wonder why Type 1 diabetes isn't on that list? Is there some reason it wouldn't be a factor?1
-
Theoldguy1 wrote: »missysippy930 wrote: »paperpudding wrote: »Theoldguy1 wrote: »paperpudding wrote: »Theoldguy1 wrote: »Small rant on public health messages on Covid. We hear wear masks, distance, wash hands and those with comorbidities are more susceptible to complications from Covid.
Where is the messaging to take positive steps to reduce comorbidities? Lose weight, positive steps for better nutrition, etc.
My answer to that would be because simple messages hit home.
If one tries to have a message about, for example, getting regular pap smears - one doesnt throw in getting regular FOBT's and regular general check ups and vaccinations, and surgery is open x time to do it and the turn around time for results is x and if result is positive or negative, x is next step and other relevant but TLDR and now nobody is getting any message at all.
Simple poster: get a pap smear every 5 years.
Simple poster, "lose weight, reduce your chance of complications from Covid".
Yes if that is the main message you want to convey.
However it seems a secondary message to me..
If we want the message of masks, hand washing, social distancing hitting home, then dont muddy the waters with secondary messages.
Posters work better when simple and direct.
I totally agree❤️
And if you want a secondary message to resonate with people, don’t single, one comorbidity out. List them all. There’s a lot of risk factors that can cause severe cases of covid leading to death. Even if there is a high number of deaths among overweight people who have died from covid. It’s not the only preexisting factor, or the only preventable one.
Let’s not forget the survivors of covid who are suffering from neurological disorders, some from very mild cases of covid. Take into consideration long term affects from surviving covid may be appearing well into the future. No one knows for sure.
The single best preventative measure, face covering, social distancing, and hand washing. Most everyone can, and should, be complying with this.
Take the time to read this article about what caregivers in ICU units are going through. It’s heartbreaking.
https://apple.news/ArQx9d9CfSvKqfRyNx7DLtw
From the CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/people-with-medical-conditions.html
"Adults of any age with the following conditions are at increased risk of severe illness from the virus that causes COVID-19:
Cancer
Chronic kidney disease
COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
Heart conditions, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, or cardiomyopathies
Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) from solid organ transplant
Obesity (body mass index [BMI] of 30 kg/m2 or higher but < 40 kg/m2)
Severe Obesity (BMI ≥ 40 kg/m2)
Pregnancy
Sickle cell disease
Smoking
Type 2 diabetes mellitus"
Please review the list, the only factors one can directly control are obesity, smoking and pregnancy. Other than cancer and sickle cell anemia the other risk factors are all made more severe by obesity.
Never have I said that face coverings, distancing, etc. should be ignored or messaging reduced. My point is losing weight, quitting smoking and improving the nutritional content of one's diet are realistically the only things an individual can do to make the impact of the disease less severe if one should contract it. This fact should be publicized.
I'm well aware of the sufferings of our health care professionals ands pray for them daily. Wouldn't it be nice if there was messaging out there that working on obesity and quitting smoking would result in less serious cases and less load on the health care providers? Perhaps someone at the start of all this would have worked on weight loss and would be 50 pounds lighter they would be quarantining in home due to improved health rather than in an ICU bed if blunt messaging about the impact of obesity and smoking was out there early.
Or are we just concerned with misplaced political correctness?
"Support public messaging to reduce obesity because of Covid" and "misplaced political correctness" are far from the only thought-options here.
I'm team "would be a waste of money because people are not responsive to messages like that", mostly. We don't have the money to do every theoretically good thing. I'd priortize the things that are likely to work on actual humans, in significant numbers. "Lose weight to limit Covid severity" is not one of those, IMO. ROI = terrible, I think.
Nothing "politically correct" about it . . . pretty cynical, in fact.
("Stay away from obese people and smokers because if you infect them they'll die" might be *slightly* more effective . . . even on the obese people and smokers: How's that for politically incorrect? 😆 Mild social ostracism was one element of the complex of things that have reduced smoking from "nearly everyone" to around 15% (US) over a few decades).
I would add that it isn't just that people won't do it... there are a lot of people out there who are 300-400+ lbs. and actually believe they are a healthy weight. Such people would see these ads and conclude that it doesn't apply to them.6 -
-
corinasue1143 wrote: »I’m surprised some of the pill pusher companies haven’t jumped on the bandwagon with “buy our pills and lose weight today to
Fight complications of Covid” or something similar.
All of the following are simpler and apply to more people:
"Buy our pills and avoid Covid"
"Buy our pills and lose weight".
KISS principle. If you're gonna lie anyway, still applies. /cynic
I think both of the above are already being used, out in the wild, usually with some "support immune system" nonsense in there for the first, and "with recommended diet & exercise program" in there for the second, to fend off the FDA. (US)3 -
Memphis has announced that since 1/4 of garbage pickup staff have Covid or are quarantined from being exposed to it they are no longer doing recycling but will pickup and treat recycling as trash. Total 444 garbagemen, I think it was 51 infected and 55 exposed.10
-
AlexandraFindsHerself1971 wrote: »I think part of the reason that obesity gets so much blowback is that weight isn't simple. It's about our relationship with food and pleasure and there's often a whole lot of trauma there. If you can't or won't treat the trauma, then the weight loss won't happen...and if it does, you'll put that weight back on quick. I watched that with my ex. He went into the hospital and spent three months in an induced coma and lost 150 pounds. Another 50-75 pounds, and he would have been at normal weight. And his response? He ate constantly and put it all back on in six months. Because he still had deep unresolved trauma around food.
And of course there's the fact that if you quit smoking, you are an ex-smoker and your risks go down from day one. Wash your clothes, and you don't smell any more. Give it a week to sweat out of your system and no one will smell it in your body. But I've been eating very carefully to lose weight for nearly an entire year, and I'm still fat. I'm not as fat as I was, but I'm still objectively fat, not normal, not skinny. It may take me another whole year, since I can't go to the gym cause COVID, so I have to do it all with diet. And you have to exist as fat while you're losing, and it's not like there's a sign "Don't harass me for my weight, I lost two pounds last week and twenty total so far!" over your head as you walk around in daily life.
People have to get their heads to the right point to work on weight and their relationship with food, and where that is is highly individual. COVID may do it for some. If it does, that's great. Whatever works.
I get plenty of exercise but haven't belonged to a gym since I moved in 2016 and didn't care for any of the gyms here. If you are interested in getting tips for being able to exercise without a gym, you could start a new thread for this topic
5 -
Theoldguy1 wrote: »missysippy930 wrote: »paperpudding wrote: »Theoldguy1 wrote: »paperpudding wrote: »Theoldguy1 wrote: »Small rant on public health messages on Covid. We hear wear masks, distance, wash hands and those with comorbidities are more susceptible to complications from Covid.
Where is the messaging to take positive steps to reduce comorbidities? Lose weight, positive steps for better nutrition, etc.
My answer to that would be because simple messages hit home.
If one tries to have a message about, for example, getting regular pap smears - one doesnt throw in getting regular FOBT's and regular general check ups and vaccinations, and surgery is open x time to do it and the turn around time for results is x and if result is positive or negative, x is next step and other relevant but TLDR and now nobody is getting any message at all.
Simple poster: get a pap smear every 5 years.
Simple poster, "lose weight, reduce your chance of complications from Covid".
Yes if that is the main message you want to convey.
However it seems a secondary message to me..
If we want the message of masks, hand washing, social distancing hitting home, then dont muddy the waters with secondary messages.
Posters work better when simple and direct.
I totally agree❤️
And if you want a secondary message to resonate with people, don’t single, one comorbidity out. List them all. There’s a lot of risk factors that can cause severe cases of covid leading to death. Even if there is a high number of deaths among overweight people who have died from covid. It’s not the only preexisting factor, or the only preventable one.
Let’s not forget the survivors of covid who are suffering from neurological disorders, some from very mild cases of covid. Take into consideration long term affects from surviving covid may be appearing well into the future. No one knows for sure.
The single best preventative measure, face covering, social distancing, and hand washing. Most everyone can, and should, be complying with this.
Take the time to read this article about what caregivers in ICU units are going through. It’s heartbreaking.
https://apple.news/ArQx9d9CfSvKqfRyNx7DLtw
From the CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/people-with-medical-conditions.html
"Adults of any age with the following conditions are at increased risk of severe illness from the virus that causes COVID-19:
Cancer
Chronic kidney disease
COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
Heart conditions, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, or cardiomyopathies
Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) from solid organ transplant
Obesity (body mass index [BMI] of 30 kg/m2 or higher but < 40 kg/m2)
Severe Obesity (BMI ≥ 40 kg/m2)
Pregnancy
Sickle cell disease
Smoking
Type 2 diabetes mellitus"
Please review the list, the only factors one can directly control are obesity, smoking and pregnancy. Other than cancer and sickle cell anemia the other risk factors are all made more severe by obesity.
Never have I said that face coverings, distancing, etc. should be ignored or messaging reduced. My point is losing weight, quitting smoking and improving the nutritional content of one's diet are realistically the only things an individual can do to make the impact of the disease less severe if one should contract it. This fact should be publicized.
I'm well aware of the sufferings of our health care professionals ands pray for them daily. Wouldn't it be nice if there was messaging out there that working on obesity and quitting smoking would result in less serious cases and less load on the health care providers? Perhaps someone at the start of all this would have worked on weight loss and would be 50 pounds lighter they would be quarantining in home due to improved health rather than in an ICU bed if blunt messaging about the impact of obesity and smoking was out there early.
Or are we just concerned with misplaced political correctness?
"Support public messaging to reduce obesity because of Covid" and "misplaced political correctness" are far from the only thought-options here.
I'm team "would be a waste of money because people are not responsive to messages like that", mostly. We don't have the money to do every theoretically good thing. I'd priortize the things that are likely to work on actual humans, in significant numbers. "Lose weight to limit Covid severity" is not one of those, IMO. ROI = terrible, I think.
Nothing "politically correct" about it . . . pretty cynical, in fact.
("Stay away from obese people and smokers because if you infect them they'll die" might be *slightly* more effective . . . even on the obese people and smokers: How's that for politically incorrect? 😆 Mild social ostracism was one element of the complex of things that have reduced smoking from "nearly everyone" to around 15% (US) over a few decades).
I'm agreeing with this.
Factually, it is probably completely correct that if someone began successfully managing their weight day 1 of this thing, they'd be -- in my cases -- lighter enough to make a difference. Knowing that is factually true doesn't really do much that is practical when you're looking at the difficulties of persuading people to begin managing their weight in the midst of unprecedented economic, social, political, and educational stress.
It's less about political correctness, it's more about absolutely limited bandwidth in all our systems. Even in the best and uncomplicated times, we struggle as a society with weight management and supporting people while they do it. Now we've got parents juggling full time work with full time child care, people who don't even know when they'll get back to work, high levels of food insecurity, and masses of people who refuses to believe that this virus is even a real threat, let alone one that is made riskier by obesity.8 -
For the person who wondered why Type 1 diabetes is not on the list of predisposing conditions. Type 1 diabetics is an autoimmune condition. Something causes the immune system to mistakenly attack a persons pancreatic tissue, it similar way to thyroid antibodies attack the thyroid and in MS its the nerve coatings which are damaged by the immune system. The problem is a reaction to something which is a close match for the persons tissue, its called, molecule mimicry. It is not unheard of for a person with one autoimmune condition to acquire others.0
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