Will COVID-19 will change attitudes to personal health?

[InfoRetrieval]

It has been reported that obesity is a significant factor in contributing to the severity of coronavirus symptoms.

Do you think that this may change attitudes towards their own obesity?

Considering that being overweight is already a well known risk factor for many conditions (some cancers, diabetes, etc) perhaps nothing will change and people will carry on as normal. However, many of theses things take time to develop and are seen as something far in the future and unlikely to happen (humans are very bad at assessing risk, after all). Coronavirus is different. It is here now and will kill you quickly if you're susceptible.

I'm not asking for definitive answers, just opinions regardless if you consider yourself healthy or not.

[Eyersey1234]

I don't know if it will change attitudes but I have noticed a lot more people seem to be taking exercise outside, it would be good if this continued post lockdown.

[PT88]

you would like to think so... maybe people will make an effort for a few months and then the majority revert to previous state. Humans are creatures of habit. The only way you would get effective change is through enforcement. Lockdown has caused people in general to have a think about their health and this has been helped by takeaways been shut and people having more time to think about diet and practise better food habits.

I think it is about time though that the NHS started charging for self inflicted conditions in order to enable it to be sustainable in the longer term.

[MC Bodge]

Beer and snacks have been less easily obtained for many, football isn't on the TV constantly and people are keen to get out of their houses, which is often taking the form of doing some exercise.

I'm not sure that everybody will stick at it after all of this, but I hope that a large number will.

[gregs656]

MC Bodge said:

Beer and snacks have been less easily obtained for many, football isn't on the TV constantly and people are keen to get out of their houses, which is often taking the form of doing some exercise.

I'm not sure that everybody will stick at it after all of this, but I hope that a large number will.

Alcohol sales have outstripped big sporting events and Christmas in the supermarkets.

For every one doing a bit more exercise there are plenty who are boozing up and eating junk.

I hope it does have a positive difference.

[Brainpox]

It won't make a shred of difference.

People have been happy being massively obese despite all the risks of a painful living and ultimately a painful death for years. Virtually all of them are in denial of the facts or think it doesn't affect them the same way, or they just plainly don't care about looking after themselves. A once in a lifetime pandemic will not make a blind bit of difference to their outlook. They enjoy food too much and expect the health service to manage the problems that come with it.

[MC Bodge]

gregs656 said:

Alcohol sales have outstripped big sporting events and Christmas in the supermarkets.

For every one doing a bit more exercise there are plenty who are boozing up and eating junk.

I hope it does have a positive difference.

That's interesting.

I havent changed my already light drinking habits, but I can see that habitual drinkers might drink more if that is a "hobby" of theirs.

I couldn't imagine being obese, it would feel so restrictive and surely can't be good for mental well-being, but, as above, if snacking is their "hobby" , I can't see that people who are very overweight will change unless they are compelled to.

[KrissKross]

It's a shame we cannot see the true demographics and stats.

Maybe it's one key reason the USA is having it so bad?