A latest report by the Public Health England (PHE) has claimed that there is an increased risk of illness or even death from the infection of the novel coronavirus caused disease Covid-19 for people who are overweight.
"The current evidence is clear that being overweight or obese puts you at greater risk of serious illness or death from COVID-19, as well as from many other life-threatening diseases," said Alison Tedstone, chief nutritionist at PHE.
There was an increase of 40 per cent in the risk of death because of Covid-19 for people who have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30-35, said the PHE based on analysis of gathered data. And compared to a healthy person, the risk of death from the disease is enhanced by as much as 90 per cent for people who have a BMI of more than 40.
Under the system followed by the PHE, those who have a BMI of more than 30 are classified to be obese. Almost 63 per cent of adults in England are overweight or obese, PHE said.
Increased severity of influenza A, higher viral titers in exhaled breath and prolonged transmission of the novel coronavirus have been associated with obesity, according to outcomes of multiple studies.
Obesity as a risk factor for severe illness caused by SARS-CoV-2 was recognized recently by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as it is with the influenza virus.
It is expected that a national level plan to tackle obesity among its citizens will shortly be announced by the British government, said a junior minister said on Friday. There were reports in the media earlier in the week that stated that restrictions on how junk food is sold in Britain is being planned to be implemented by the UK government.
"The department of health has indeed been consulting on, for instance, how to protect children from adverts and the impact of adverts of unhealthy food. So of course that is one of the policies that would be looked at," Helen Whately told Sky News.
"There will be announcements on this shortly," she said.
A promise to tackle the growing issue of obesity has been made by the UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson. He has also admitted that he had lost weight himself since he was admitted to intensive care after being infected with Copvid-19.
Along with reports in the media that restrictions on advertising unhealthy foods could be announced by next week by the UK government, Johnson on Friday said that people should lose weight.
"I'm not normally a believer in nannying, bossing politics but the reality is that obesity is one of the comorbidity factors," Johnson said.
(Source:www.livemint.com)
"The current evidence is clear that being overweight or obese puts you at greater risk of serious illness or death from COVID-19, as well as from many other life-threatening diseases," said Alison Tedstone, chief nutritionist at PHE.
There was an increase of 40 per cent in the risk of death because of Covid-19 for people who have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30-35, said the PHE based on analysis of gathered data. And compared to a healthy person, the risk of death from the disease is enhanced by as much as 90 per cent for people who have a BMI of more than 40.
Under the system followed by the PHE, those who have a BMI of more than 30 are classified to be obese. Almost 63 per cent of adults in England are overweight or obese, PHE said.
Increased severity of influenza A, higher viral titers in exhaled breath and prolonged transmission of the novel coronavirus have been associated with obesity, according to outcomes of multiple studies.
Obesity as a risk factor for severe illness caused by SARS-CoV-2 was recognized recently by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as it is with the influenza virus.
It is expected that a national level plan to tackle obesity among its citizens will shortly be announced by the British government, said a junior minister said on Friday. There were reports in the media earlier in the week that stated that restrictions on how junk food is sold in Britain is being planned to be implemented by the UK government.
"The department of health has indeed been consulting on, for instance, how to protect children from adverts and the impact of adverts of unhealthy food. So of course that is one of the policies that would be looked at," Helen Whately told Sky News.
"There will be announcements on this shortly," she said.
A promise to tackle the growing issue of obesity has been made by the UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson. He has also admitted that he had lost weight himself since he was admitted to intensive care after being infected with Copvid-19.
Along with reports in the media that restrictions on advertising unhealthy foods could be announced by next week by the UK government, Johnson on Friday said that people should lose weight.
"I'm not normally a believer in nannying, bossing politics but the reality is that obesity is one of the comorbidity factors," Johnson said.
(Source:www.livemint.com)
