I think, in the context of possibly dying of Covid-19, it could be effective though. If the messaging was there that you could greatly reduce your risk by loosing weight, at least the group of people who were both obese and seriously frightened of Covid could be engaged to make positive changes. That would save lives.

> I think, in the context of possibly dying of Covid-19, it could be effective though

Possibility of dying blind, without feet because of diabetes wasn't good enough reason to lose fat for many. COVID-19 won't be either.

Yeah but "possible condition 20 - 40 years away" is very different to "contagious disease that could get you next week". Urgency is a motivator!

Even with the onset of diabetes/serious complications from the disease, it’s still often not enough.

Losing weight is very difficult for people to sustain. There are individual success stories but those don’t outweigh the fact that, statistically, people just isn’t lose weight and keep it off sustainably.

No it isn't. People don't make rational decisions about these things. Just look at how many reject social distancing, masks, and vaccines.

"Not enough" and "too many" are both perfectly fitting with your example.

Next week and losing fat can't be in the same sentence.

1 kg of fat is roughly 7500 Cal. Healthy deficit is 500 Cal a day, which means losing 2 kg of fat per month. 50 kg overweight means two years of suffering.

People are motivated to lose fat already. There are immediate social and psychological costs aplenty to carrying it and immediate benefits to presenting as trim/fit.

Obesity is not a motivation problem.

I would believe that covid has provided all sorts of opportunities for changes in habit, though, which might help.

If COVID has proven anything, it's that political messaging is far better than all other types of messaging combined.

Either way, telling people to change their lifestyles falls on deaf ears as a group. People know, for example, that being obese in your 50s and 60s puts you at a great deal of risk, yet most people who are obese at the beginning of their 50s are still obese at the end of their 60s, provided that they are still alive.

You know why politicians don't state these obvious facts? Because they don't want to lose votes.

Most fat people probably don't like hearing wealthy skinny politicians with personal chefs and trainers telling them to lose weight. Doesn't score well with the focus group I guess.

We can't reliably get people to vaccinate, which reduces the risk of severe hospitalization or death orders of magnitude more than losing weight.

How many orders of magnitude? Can you quantify that for us? While I recommend that everyone eligible protect themselves by getting vaccinated, I don't think the current data supports the strength of your claim. Exaggerations and hyperbole aren't helpful.

Peak protection From hospitalization and death reaches over 90%.

I’m not too familiar with the added risk from being over weight, but as I understand it, it is no where near that big of a step change.

So that would be one order of magnitude, not orders (plural). We need to be precise in our communications.

Agreed. It's like if you see a bus heading towards you, would you stand still and let it hit you or step out of the way?

What nonsenses.

Vaccines and masks don't protect just you but also those around you. Its simple and effective measures. That's the justification for mandates.

Fat kills you and you alone. The reasons are often complex and it requires long-term changes in private lifestyle and behavior to make any change.

But obese people don't live in vacuum, they are much more likely to take away the hospital beds from others in this pandemic. Also the world has socialised medicare (par America) so the costs have relevant effect on every citizen for anti vaxxers and obese.

If the obese and overweight remain fully vaccinated w/ boosters, it's unlikely they'll end up in the hospital taking away hospital beds. The unvaccinated in general are the biggest issue.