A new national campaign is underway to encourage millions of adults to kick start their health and reduce their risk of serious illness, including COVID-19.
The campaign – unveiled as part of the Government’s new Obesity Strategy – encourages adults to introduce changes that will help them work towards a healthier weight, with a suite of free tools and apps supporting people to eat better, drink less alcohol and get active. This includes a new app for the free 12-week NHS Weight Loss Plan, helping people make healthier food choices and learn skills to prevent weight gain.
The current evidence does not suggest that having excess weight increases people’s chances of contracting COVID-19. However, data shows that obese people are significantly more likely to become seriously ill and be admitted to intensive care with COVID-19 compared to those with a healthy BMI.
PHE has released a new film explaining how weight gain happens, the impact that it has on our bodies and how it increases the risk of serious diseases. The film helps people know when to act and encourages them to visit the Better Health website to find out about the available support.
Angela Baker, Deputy Director for Public Health England South East, said:
“Gaining weight often happens gradually over time and can be just the odd unhealthy habit mounting up particularly since we have all be working at home. Extra weight puts pressure on our bodies and reduces our strength to fight off serious diseases, including Covid-19.
“Covid-19 has given us a wake-up call to get our health back on track. We know how hard it can be to lose weight and keep it off – our Better Health campaign will make it easier for everyone to introduce changes that will help them maintain a healthy weight. It’s never too late – or too early – to make changes that will have a lasting impact on your health.”
Many people have used lockdown as an opportunity to change habits and adopt healthier behaviours, yet research has shown over half the population has found it harder to stay healthy during this time. While staying active is important to help people lose weight and keep it off, improving diet is most critical as most people are consuming more calories than they need.
Search ‘Better Health’ or visit nhs.uk/betterhealth for free tools and support to start leading a healthier lifestyle today.
The next stage of COVID-1984….
Please explain what Covid 1984 is or was.
something something govt propaganda
Sorry still don’t get why you used Covid-1984.
then you deserve to believe the propaganda
No I don’t believe the propaganda . If you’re using George Orwell’s novel 1984 as a link the this would make perfect sense. Don’t forget Agenda 21 is looming as well.
Yes because governments never lie, right? Remember WMDs in Iraq, huh? Remember? Pillock.
Remember the Russian “interference” in Brexit? That dogwhistle that turned out to be false? Remember? Pillock.
So basically if you overweight even by a margin you will probably get covid but if your an athletic looking skinny person then you won’t get it wtf!! is this more scare tactics of our government again creating a super nanny sheep state under the horrible covid situation. Something smells quite fishy with all these we have got to do this! that! or the other. It wasn’t that long ago they were saying covid took no prisoners regardless who your are! Oh and before anyone jumps on the band wagon yes I do all I can to protect myself, my family and everyone else from this horrible virus
The 3rd paragraph of the article is what you need.
Spot on. Unfortunately there’s no protection from the virus it’s real. We can only stay safe. I take blood pressure tablets ,statins and blood thinners. Have had no so called heart problems for over 15 years. But being a little ( even though my doctor’s not concerned ) overweight now this means I’m highly likely to get covid19. As you say stinks of scare tactics which we don’t need.
Being overweight does not automatically mean those people WILL contract COVID19. As it states in the report, overweight people are more likely to have complications IF they are overweight or obese. But let’s be honest, carrying excess weight is not good anyway. Eating a healthy diet and exercising is common sense right. Anyone who lives on takeaways, ready meals, pizza, fizzy drinks and drinks alcohol on a regular basis isn’t going to be in the best of health anyway. It’s not difficult
I’m lucky to have a wife (45yrs married) who has always served up healthy meals. For my height I’m probably about 6/7 kilos over the recommended weight. When I question my doctor as I said he has no problems with this. My blood pressure is virtually spot on, my cholesterol is under 4, I haven’t smoked for 36 years and I drink under the recommended alcohol figure. Oh and exercise regularly. I’m 69 yrs of age and if I fell over and smacked my head and unfortunately died I can assure you that Covid 19 will appear on my death certificate to ramp up the false figures along with thousands of poor unfortunate souls.
So firstly we are encouraged to eat out then loose weight
Im not over weight so I’ll carry on as i am but good luck to all that give it a go
If you are overweight you are more likely to have other health conditions that will complicate things if you were to catch covid-19. This is a fact!
Loosing weight is a very hard thing to do, well done to all who have done it or are trying. 🙂 Maintaining a good healthy balance of diet and exercise will extend the years that you’ll be healthy for. That this is good for everyone.