https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/26/obesity-increases-risk-of-covid-19-death-by-48-study-finds

Darwin was right?

amercer said:

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In terms of natural selection, all that matters is that you have viable offspring. So COVID taking out middle age to old obese people isn't going to change the gene pool much.

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Well being obese makes it harder for women to become pregnant and carry a fetus to term. Obesity also reduces a man's sperm count. Hormonely speaking our bodies aren't made to deal with higher estrogen levels from fat cells.

Have witnessed it.........

Aggie95 said:

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sounds like we should be mandating salads and vegetables....not masks, right?

Also, how does the level of obesity impact this...if you are borderline overweight/obese on the BMI scale vs say 20% over the threshold?

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Yea but the average American's ideas of salads and veggies is slapping on the feed bag for a ranch laden buffet at Sweet Tomatoes or a tray or fried jalapeno poppers.

JesusQuintana said:

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My guess is that more american's have gained unwanted weight over the last 6 months as opposed to losing it....adding fuel to the fire.

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Agreed, I have posted it before but couple alcohol abuse and you have a huge amount of inflammation that your body is already fighting before Covid.

Aggie95 said:

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sounds like we should be mandating salads and vegetables....not masks, right?

Also, how does the level of obesity impact this...if you are borderline overweight/obese on the BMI scale vs say 20% over the threshold?

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Honestly the answer is a question; Is the person in question fat? Do they have a high BMI b/c they are fat or they have a low to moderate body fat % and a lot of muscle. The mirror and the waistline of a person's pants tend to answer that question quite well.

Remember, I'd worry about how high your BF% is in relation to BMI. I doubt, barring any underlying conditions, this guy is at risk for Covid due to a high BMI:



Now, he might be susceptible to issues with any "supplementation" that he could possibly be taking, but that could actually help him potentially against Covid. Not sure about studies with anabolics and Covid yet.

The obesity issue is what my doctor preached to us about in terms of those most at risk for Covid.

What about just a little obese? I mean, I think I look ok... could probably lose 10 lbs..

We have beat the BMI issue to death already.

For the general public a BMI over 30 is obese, 35 is dangerously obese.

P.U.T.U said:

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We have beat the BMI issue to death already.

For the general public a BMI over 30 is obese, 35 is dangerously obese.

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Yup. You put it better. My point was, if you have a high BMI and don't look something like the picture I posted, you could probably stand to lose some weight.

BMI correlates with respiratory fitness, even in relatively fit or active people.

I hover at a higher than ideal BMI (mid to high 20s). I also train daily for triathlons. However, I can still tell when I get off track and creep up a little, even just a +1 to 2 on BMI.

The truth is that almost all of the 40% of Americans over 30 BMI need to lose weight. Even losing some muscle along with it would make you overall healthier.

Squadron7 said:

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P.U.T.U said:

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We have beat the BMI issue to death already.

For the general public a BMI over 30 is obese, 35 is dangerously obese.

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Ah, yes, but this is the internet....where everyone's high BMI number is due to their Myles Garrett-like physique.

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But... I do have rather large hands..

FrioAg 00 said:

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BMI correlates with respiratory fitness, even in relatively fit or active people.

I hover at a higher than ideal BMI (mid to high 20s). I also train daily for triathlons. However, I can still tell when I get off track and creep up a little, even just a +1 to 2 on BMI.

The truth is that almost all of the 40% of Americans over 30 BMI need to lose weight. Even losing some muscle along with it would make you overall healthier.

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I don't think anyone advocates being overweight or obese is ideal and especially to "keep muscle". If one needs to lose weight, lose weight first no doubt. But where I would disagree is that having more muscle mass is overall more healthy and allows one to be more efficient at burning fat while also keeping blood sugar in check and being at a borderline BMI level, like 1 or 2 points higher or lower than "ideal" is relative to a number of other factors involved than that specific number. Maybe for performance in triathlons it matters to you specifically. But that is merely based on your sport performance. In terms of overall health, how covid or any other virus, disease or health issues are concerned regarding a slightly higher than "ideal" BMI, being a point of 2 higher or lower probably won't have any effect on the patient at all. Some would even argue that its better long term to be slightly higher (again 1-2 points here) BMI but very high in muscle. Here are a few reasons why I see it that way.

CAN WEIGHTLIFTING KEEP YOU FROM GETTING SICK? IMMUNITY STUDY EXPLAINS

Losing Bodyfat or Gaining Muscle Mass: Which is More Important? by Mark Rippetoe | October 27, 2017



Just the way I have started to see fitness as I have moved from being just a commercial gym trainer to more of a strength based coach.

Those dying from covid are dying as their compromised pulmonary and cardiovascular systems cannot elevate enough to compensate for the diminished efficiency.

Oxygen saturation rates fall, so organ damage ensues (Hypoxia). So having less body mass to oxygenate, regardless of the mix of fat and muscle, would make surviving more likely.

That 300 pound beefcake body builder that Posters say proves BMI is not relevant - he would almost certainly be much more at risk for dying from covid.