Summary

The author, an individual with obesity living in Texas, is preparing to continue strict self-isolation measures as the state plans to reopen, due to the high risk of severe COVID-19 complications associated with their weight.

Abstract

As Texas begins to outline plans for reopening, the author, who is obese and at high risk for severe COVID-19 illness, expresses concern over the new information linking obesity to an increased likelihood of hospitalization from the virus, especially among younger patients. Despite knowing the health risks associated with their weight, including pre-diabetes and borderline hypertension, the author emphasizes the complexity of weight management beyond simply eating better and exercising. With obesity identified as a significant risk factor for severe COVID-19, second only to advanced age, the author feels the need to take additional precautions, such as opting for grocery pickup and considering disinfecting groceries, to avoid exposure. The author plans to remain in self-isolation for the foreseeable future, despite potential reopenings of public spaces like beaches, until a vaccine is available or significant weight loss is achieved.

Opinions

The authorizingue is personally affected by the link between obesity and severe COVID-19, recognizing that their risk is higher than initially thought.
There is a sense of frustration or resignation regarding weight management, indicating that the issue is more complex than "just eat better and exercise."
The author feels that their current lifestyle choices, such as staying indoors and using grocery pickup services, need to be maintained or intensified to mitigate the risk of contracting COVID-19.
There is a perception that luck has played a role in not being exposed to the virus thus far, given the relatively low number of cases in their area.
The author is skeptical about the safety of reopening-form measures and is committed to remaining in self-isolation until there is a significant change in their health status or the availability of a vaccine.

As the US Prepares to Open Up, I’m Preparing to Hunker Down

Obesity seems to be the biggest risk factor behind age for severe COVID-19, which means my risk is much higher than I thought.

Within the last 24 hours, the Governor of Texas (where I live) announced some plans to start opening the state up within the next couple of weeks, and the New York Times published this article:

Obesity Linked to Severe Coronavirus Disease, Especially for Younger Patients

Young adults with obesity are more likely to be hospitalized, even if they have no other health problems, studies show…

www.nytimes.com

For context, I am obese. At my last physical, the doctor said my BMI nearly qualified me for bariatric surgery, and I’m sure I’ve gained weight since then. If I tell you how much I weigh, you will probably fall out of your chair.

I’ve always known I’m at a higher risk for heart disease and stroke and diabetes because of my weight. My blood pressure and cholesterol are on the borderline of where I might need to start taking medication soon, and my blood sugar is in pre-diabetic ranges.

I’m already aware that I’m eating myself to death one bowl of ice cream at a time. And if it was as simple as “just eat better and exercise,” I would have done so by now. But my struggle with my weight isn’t the point. That’s a discussion for another day.

Now, I have to worry that if I get the coronavirus, I may end up in the hospital or even dead because of my weight.

I’ve been conscious of the fact that I have several “almost” risk factors, so I’ve been pretty good about staying inside apart from a weekly grocery store trip.

However, the latest information is scary. Several studies from around the world show that obesity is the second greatest risk factor behind advanced age for severe COVID-19, the kind that puts you on a ventilator.

Even if I were to start a diet and exercise program today, it would take more than a year for me to (safely) eliminate my weight as a risk factor.

I wonder if I’ve mostly gotten lucky not being exposed to COVID-19 yet. As of writing, there are only 421 confirmed cases in Galveston County and only 29 confirmed cases in the city of Galveston. The tourists were kicked out a couple of weeks ago, which hopefully helped keep numbers low.

In any case, now I need to get serious about protecting myself. Yesterday, I did grocery pickup instead of going inside, so I’ll continue trying to do that when possible (last week, when I needed toilet paper, that wasn’t an option). However, I didn’t wipe down any of my groceries before putting them away. I guess that’s a step I should take going forward.

They might reopen the beaches soon, but I won’t be going. Looks like I need to stay inside as much as possible until there’s a vaccine or I lose 100+ pounds — Either way, it looks like I’ll be spending the rest of 2020 inside my apartment.