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Being overweight or obese has been recognised as a significant risk factor in worsening the effects of Covid infections. By July 2020, Public Health England was warning that “living with excess weight is being consistently reported to be associated with an increased Covid-19 risk”. 1

Soon after, a meta-analysis of 75 studies from around the world looked at health outcomes among people contracting Covid. It found that, compared to ‘healthy weight’, obesity is associated with a:2

·       113 per cent higher risk of hospitalisation

·       74 per cent higher rate of admission to intensive care

·       48 per cent increase in deaths.

A Social Market Foundation survey of 2,000 people in the UK last autumn found Covid was making people think about their weight:3

·       20 per cent had taken steps to reduce their weight because of coronavirus

·       23 per cent were planning to take steps in the future.

Among those taking steps to reduce their weight, eating less and taking more exercise were both cited by 42 per cent of respondents. However, 23 per cent said that the pandemic had led to them getting less exercise, and 18 per cent said it had led to them eating more or having a poorer diet.

Weight management services have been affected by Covid restrictions, too. A Public Health England survey indicated that 61 per cent of respondents reported that their tier 2 service (primary care with community interventions) had been cancelled or delayed.3