The United States has the 13th highest COVID-19 death rate relative to population. Many different factors shaped death rates in the pandemic. But there’s one uncomfortable reason that the U.S. likely experienced more COVID-19 deaths that has largely been ignored because it’s politically incorrect.
Out-of-control obesity rates and the “body positivity” movement predating the pandemic have left the U.S. population disproportionately vulnerable to COVID-19 compared to other countries. The U.S. ranks No. 12 in obesity worldwide, one of the highest rates among developed countries. One study found that 90% of worldwide COVID-19 deaths occurred in countries with high obesity rates.
COVID-19 is much more deadly for the elderly and those with preexisting conditions that weaken the immune system. One of those conditions is obesity. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Adults with excess weight are at even greater risk during the COVID-19 pandemic.” The CDC said that of the roughly 900,000 adult COVID-19 hospitalizations from the start of the outbreak to Nov. 18, 30% were attributed to obesity.
Meanwhile, a new study examining over 150,000 adults across 20 hospitals confirmed that obese people are much more likely to be hospitalized or to die from the virus. Severely obese COVID-19 patients were 61% more likely to die and 33% more likely to face hospitalization than their peers at healthy weights.
Unfortunately, this key factor driving high U.S. death rates has been quietly reported and largely overlooked. In woke culture, it’s considered too politically incorrect to point out that being fat is unhealthy, even as a pandemic is raging across the country and tragically claiming the lives of overweight people.
But the obesity problem in this country is real, even if we’re increasingly too scared to talk about it out loud for fear of being labeled “fatphobic.” According to Harvard’s School of Public Health, two-thirds are overweight, while one-third are “obese.” Meanwhile, among those age 2 to 19, 1 in 3 are overweight or obese.
And it’s only getting worse.
As COVID-19 lockdowns and restrictions have trapped people in their homes over the last year, many have gained weight. A new American Psychological Association survey showed that 42% gained weight over the last year, an average of 29 pounds.
This alarming pre-pandemic crisis and recent acceleration should be setting off enormous alarm bells. But instead, liberal-leaning media outlets and cultural influencers have glorified obesity and downplayed its health risks.
For example, Cosmopolitan ran a series of magazine covers featuring significantly overweight women under the heading, “This is healthy!”
If we put an anorexic girl on the cover of #Cosmopolitan there would be outrage. Anorexia carries just as many health warnings as obesity. I am all for promoting positive body image but when will the industry starts promoting healthy bodies instead of extremes? This is NOT health pic.twitter.com/muIS2d2uTb
— Ianthe Rose (@IantheRose) September 3, 2018
Weird time for @Cosmopolitan to do this cover given the relationship between obesity and death/serious illness from Covid. pic.twitter.com/7HYAktuVeh
— Rita Panahi (@RitaPanahi) January 4, 2021
And celebrity fitness trainer Jillian Michaels faced an internet outrage mob and widespread denunciation when she declined to describe overweight singer Lizzo’s body as “healthy” and instead praised her music. Lizzo has gained internet celebrity and media fanfare for not just her musical talents but for being vastly overweight and unabashedly happy about it, declared a “body positivity” queen by the woke Left.
“Fat is not a bad word,” blared Teen Vogue. “Fat is not an indication of value, health, beauty, or performance.” (Emphasis mine.) A cancer charity was lambasted for “fat shaming” when it started an awareness campaign about the link between obesity and cancer.
These are just a few examples of a much broader trend, one that has had real consequences. A 2018 study found that the body positivity movement has led people to underestimate their own weight problems, which leads to fewer people losing weight.
We must reject this dangerous philosophy.
Of course, body shaming is wrong and unproductive. No one should be belittled for their body, and making people feel bad about themselves often only pushes them into unhealthier habits. However, we must not glorify unhealthiness or mislead people about the gravity of obesity’s health consequences. It’s no exaggeration to say that doing so has deadly consequences.
Brad Polumbo (@Brad_Polumbo) is a Washington Examiner contributor and host of the Breaking Boundaries podcast.
