Daily US Times: Patty Nece has not been inside a retail store for an entire year. Even though most of the businesses in Virginia reopened by July and grocery stores remained opened throughout the Covid pandemic, the 62-year-old has not dared to step inside one since last March, as obese, she at risk for severe Covid-19.
Because of her disease, she is eligible to get the Covid vaccine and has an appointment for her first dose on Wednesday. While she’s looking forward to getting coronavirus vaccine, she is also disappointed some Americans have criticized people with obesity who are prioritized to get the vaccine.
Nece, who is also the chairwoman of the Obesity Action Coalition, said: “It displays a misunderstanding … weight isn’t always within your control.”
“Like many diseases, there’s personal responsibility involved but that’s not the end. The mantra of eat less and move more – which I’ve heard my entire life – isn’t the answer.”
In one instance, a news anchor for WTTG-TV in Washington, D.C., sent a tweet criticizing health officials for prioritizing obese patients for the coronavirus vaccine.
Blake McCoy said in the since-deleted tweet: “I’m annoyed obese people of all ages get priority vaccine access before all essential workers. Vaccinate all essential workers. Then obese.”
Roughly 40% of adult Americans are obese, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data from 2018. Studies have shown people with obesity are more likely to have worse outcomes from coronavirus than others with a lower body mass index (BMI).
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