On 27 July 2020, Public Health England launched a major new adult health campaign to seize the opportunity for a national reset moment of health. Nearly two thirds (63%) of adults in the UK are overweight or living with obesity.
Gaining weight is often a gradual process that takes place over a number of years and modern life doesn’t always make it easy. But this extra weight causes pressure to build up around vital organs, making it harder for the body to fight against diseases like cancer, heart disease and now COVID-19.
By reducing your weight within a healthy range, you can cut your risk of being critically ill with COVID-19. To improve health and wellbeing, individuals should aim to have a Body Mass Index (BMI) below 25 and above 18.5. NICE recommends that Black, Asian and minority ethnic groups (BAME) should aim to have a BMI below 23 and above 18.5 to avoid risks to health.
For help and support to lose weight, visit nhs.uk/BetterHealth.