COVID vaccine eligibility brings feelings of 'shame,' 'guilt' to some who meet BMI requirement
When states began to announce body mass index (BMI) would be a factor in determining early eligibility for COVID-19 vaccines, Sydney Greene experienced "a lot of complicated feelings," ranging from apprehension to shame.
"As someone who does have a high BMI and is considered by the medical field as obese, I felt a lot of complicated feelings about being a part of this group and once again being told that because of my weight, I'm unhealthy," Greene, a 24-year-old living in Austin, Texas, said.
Wil Williams, 28, shared a similar sentiment. Williams explained "being a fat person – so much of your life is already wrapped up in shame and being guilted because of your body."
