I saw this
Bill Maher 'New Rule' clip posted on Facebook where he talks about COVID hospitalizations and obesity, among other things.
I knew being obese increased risks involved with COVID, but I didn't realize it was that high.
78% of people hospitalized for COVID being overweight seems like a much bigger deal than actually being reported.
My question is why isn't this hammered home more? Why aren't national health experts giving press conferences where they're telling us to get vaccinated, social distance, wear a mask and lose some weight? I suspect Maher nailed it when he said talking about obesity is a third rail.
I guess the bigger question is how do we toe the line between fat shaming and having a serious debate about America's obesity epidemic? It's exacerbated COVID's effects, but it's a problem that will be with us long after we return to a post-COVID 'normal' world.
In theory there should be a gulf of options between fat shaming and a serious debate about what to do to help create a healthier populace, but the ever-growing trend of body positivity 'influencers' are essentially turning it into an either/or debate, especially when
someone with a decent social media following is calling personal trainers Nazis and comparing dieting to sexaul assault.