64% of U.K. adults overweight ....
- Thread starter Johnnyweetabix
- Start date
My concern with people discounting the benefits of BMI as a measurement is that often obese people like to suggest it is a flawed metric.
If, as the guardian suggests '20% of Covid patients in intensive care are of normal weight, 32% are overweight and 48% are obese' it is something that really needs to be taken more seriously- the information on this doesn't define whether you have broad shoulders/ gym heavily or not- it specifically states 80% of intensive care patients (on the day this data was collected) were in the high BMI category.
I do not think it is a perfect metric for obesity, but if I was sitting in the overweight camp I would certainly be looking at my risk profile.
If, as the guardian suggests '20% of Covid patients in intensive care are of normal weight, 32% are overweight and 48% are obese' it is something that really needs to be taken more seriously- the information on this doesn't define whether you have broad shoulders/ gym heavily or not- it specifically states 80% of intensive care patients (on the day this data was collected) were in the high BMI category.
I do not think it is a perfect metric for obesity, but if I was sitting in the overweight camp I would certainly be looking at my risk profile.
Johnnyweetabix
Well-known member
It frightens me a little just how we have accepted being overweight as the new normal . Takeaways and fast food in abundance is not helping but it’s also amazing just how little exercise some people do. Horrible thought but I wonder what the Covid deaths in the U.K. would have been if our obesity was much less. I suspect it would be a lot lower.
JM14
Well-known member
Any rugby player would be classed as obese based on BMI, its not the best calculator for weight.
ForssAwakens
Well-known member
When I was 24 bmi people called me lollipop head, just shows you how normalised multiple chins are
wilkos_perm
Well-known member
BMI is not a perfect measure but it's a very good indicator for most people. An example of a rugby player or similar accounts for a very small % of the population. You aren't going to get something that accounts for every scenario but it flags up potential issues for much of the population. Weight is a massive contributing factor for so many conditions and diseases yet isn't taken seriously by enough people.
The perception of what's a normal weight has shifted massively since I was a kid. The number of overweight school children is a depressing sign that the cycle is continuing to get worse.
wilkos_perm
Well-known member
Well you can't isolate one factor you have to throw in ageing populations, quality of healthcare, government policy etc etc but weight is clearly a big risk factor for individuals
Of course. I wondred if age was a bigger factor there. Obviously it is complex with no single factor - that's obvious. I agree on weight btw. As someone said earlier as nation we've gradually accepted weight gain as a norm. I feel we're a bit too influenced by the States with fast food, tv dinners etc.
Redwurzel
Well-known member
We must the fattest developed nation with the USA. We do have a lot of very processed meals and I am a big cuplrit. I love the microwave but it probably doubles my fat intake. Also a weakness/craving for Haagen Daz ice cream and salty food. In the 1960s people did not have fridges and in the 1970s there were no microwaves, in the 1980s the was no Haagen Daz. Ok we should eat less and better, but the temptations are much bigger today. I remember going to Slovakia in 2005 and there were few overweight people, there food shops had no or very few ready meals, but were full of primary ingredients such as flour and un cooked meat. It will change as food producers know how to tempt us.
Covid may change soem attitudes, but for example I saw nothing in the Budget to encourage less eating. Bizarrely in the Summer the UK Government was paying people to eat more.
Covid may change soem attitudes, but for example I saw nothing in the Budget to encourage less eating. Bizarrely in the Summer the UK Government was paying people to eat more.
FatCat
Well-known member
I agree that as a nation we are overweight but I do find the prescribed measures a bit harsh. I’m 6ft 2 and I’m allowed to be 13stone 10 (88kgs) after that I am then classed as overweight.
at the moment I’m about 13stone mainly because I exercise a lot - if I didn’t my natural weight is about 13.5 to 14. At 6ft 2 I can carry that easily and could get away with at least another stone.
I’ve always thought the nhs or whoever prescribes these limits have got it wrong.
at the moment I’m about 13stone mainly because I exercise a lot - if I didn’t my natural weight is about 13.5 to 14. At 6ft 2 I can carry that easily and could get away with at least another stone.
I’ve always thought the nhs or whoever prescribes these limits have got it wrong.
Ingleby_Flash
Well-known member
Oh god man, shut up or we’ll be in lockdown with the takeaways shut until the numbers drop from 40,000 to zero. You can only meet in the garden with six people who’s bmi is less than 22.
Centralscrutinizer
Well-known member
BMI is a blunt tool and more of a way for others to categorise you. As an individual you don't need a number to tell you your obese or whatever. You can pretty well see and "feel" what condition you're in surely ?
festa5
Well-known member
Yeah, I'm more bothered about what clothes I can fit into and how they look to be honest. Waist size is always feels like a good indicator for me (actual waist size, not what's the tightest pair of jeans I can squeeze into with my stomach hanging over the top).
Same_as_before
Well-known member
Obese, need to lose 5 stone. I have lost 3 stone in two years, a very long way to go.
Blood pressure perfect
collesterol good
Evidently I do more exercise than 80% of the population.
His knows what will happen when the club opens again though.
Blood pressure perfect
collesterol good
Evidently I do more exercise than 80% of the population.
His knows what will happen when the club opens again though.
MolteniArcore
Well-known member
BMI is a load of rubbish. But yes, we are a fat nation. We won't cycle or walk. We love our cars and jump in them at every opportunity.
Fuel duty should go up. There should be incentives to cycle or use public transport. Trains and busses should be cheaper.
We also don't spend money on good infrastructure to enable safe walking and cycling. It's quite depressing. Schools are the worst - it's horrible seeing the lines of cars parked up spewing fumes into the kids' lungs cos the parents are too lazy or fat to walk.
Fuel duty should go up. There should be incentives to cycle or use public transport. Trains and busses should be cheaper.
We also don't spend money on good infrastructure to enable safe walking and cycling. It's quite depressing. Schools are the worst - it's horrible seeing the lines of cars parked up spewing fumes into the kids' lungs cos the parents are too lazy or fat to walk.
wilkos_perm
Well-known member
The limits are evidence and research based whereas our individual feelings on what is ok for us isn't really based on anything factual though is it? It sounds like where you're at now is spot on, inside the BMI boundaries and exercising
BillyBoyStu
Well-known member
24.3 for me and I exercise (run/cycle) 5 times a week.
Its coming up a year now since covid has changed our lives, plenty of time for people to realise that being overweight is a major factor in ending up in hospital (and not just for covid) and do something about it.
Still there's minimum information in the press and television about this.
Its coming up a year now since covid has changed our lives, plenty of time for people to realise that being overweight is a major factor in ending up in hospital (and not just for covid) and do something about it.
Still there's minimum information in the press and television about this.
wilkos_perm
Well-known member
Of
Of course it's not based on figures from the war27. But if you look up Real BMI online I think that is more realistic. Wasn’t the BMI index devised during the war? Not sure if it has been amended but everyone had b***r all to eat at the time.