Experts fear that poor diets and a lack of exercise have become more common during the lockdown - Getty Images
Experts fear that poor diets and a lack of exercise have become more common during the lockdown – Getty Images
Coronavirus Article Bar with counter ..
Coronavirus Article Bar with counter ..

New research shows that severe obesity can increase the chance of dying from coronavirus can increase by as much as 90 per cent.

The PHE report reveals that men aged 40 who are obese – meaning a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or more –  can expect to cut their lives short by more than four years. Obese women of the same age will lose three and a half years. 

Men who are severely obese – a Body Mass Index of 40 or more – can expect to lose almost a decade, while women lose eight years.

The research also shows that a BMI of 35 to 40 increases the risk of dying from Covid by 40 per cent, while a BMI of 40 or more increases the risk by 90 per cent. Researchers said excess fat can affect the respiratory system and is likely to affect inflammatory and immune function.  

The research shows that just being overweight – a BMI of 25 or more – increases the risk of admission to intensive care with Covid by 50 per cent, with the danger increasing as much as four-fold at a BMI of 40.

Boris Johnson will announce tight restrictions on advertising unhealthy food next week - REUTERS
Boris Johnson will announce tight restrictions on advertising unhealthy food next week – REUTERS

The study by Public Health England (PHE) also suggests that the country’s lifestyles have got worse during lockdown, with increased snacking on cakes and biscuits, and less exercise.

Research by the Food Standards Agency shows distinct changes in British lifestyles during lockdown – much of it for the worse.

While home-cooking increased, with 39 per cent cooking more foods from scratch, and 26 per cent eating more healthy foods, snacking increased by 42 per cent. 

Meanwhile, levels of physical activity fell, the survey of 2,000 adults found, as commuters swapped their walks to the office, or station for long days crouched over a laptop. 

During some points of lockdown, more than 40 per cent of those surveyed said they were taking less exercise than they used to.

Sales of alcohol in shops have risen significantly during the lockdown - pa
Sales of alcohol in shops have risen significantly during the lockdown – pa

Meanwhile, sales of alcohol from shops rose by 30 per cent – though it notes that this may have simply substituted for drinks normally bought in pubs or restaurants. And those of sweets were up by a fifth, with those of sweet baking ingredients up 22 per cent, the research found.

Prof Susan Jebb, professor of diet and population health at the University of Oxford, who peer-reviewed the findings, contained in PHE’s new report, suggested that the lockdown had divergent effects on different groups of people. 

She said: “Some people say actually I’ve managed to lose weight because I’m not out socialising, I’m not drinking so much and I’ve been going for a run – and other people have gone quite the other direction. 

“They’ve been two yards from the biscuit tin for the whole day, sitting at their desk not moving, and have gained weight, and it seems to me that the latter is more dominant.”

Prof Naveed Sattar, professor of metabolic medicine from the University of Glasgow, said it was possible that the pandemic – and increasing evidence about the impact of obesity on the seriousness of Covid – may frighten some people into making lifestyle changes now.

He said: “This pandemic has scared people. If this helps some people improve their lifestyle, make some small, sustainable changes in a positive direction, then I think that’s a good thing.”

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