Global figures reveal there were over a million hospital admissions last year for obesity related illnesses last year. The record number helps show the global problem that obesity is posing to the country.
Within the height of the pandemic, the Government announced that obesity posed a serious threat to the risk of severe Covid. The figures, published by NHS Digital, show a 17% increase in hospital admissions where obesity is a factor. This equates to almost 150,000 more admissions than the previous year.
In 2018 to 2019, cases actually dropped from 11 thousand to 10 thousand, although it can be argued that this is due to bariatric surgery’s being postponed or cancelled.
Professor of metabolic medicine Naveed Sattar says the biggest obesity related problem is Type 2 diabetes. The extra weight poses a risk factor for heart disease, failure, lung disease and many other problems. Sattar hopes the increased risk of Covid problems will be “a wake up call” to people.
Covid 19 poses an obesity ‘wake up call’
It is not yet known why obesity causes risks with Covid 19. They do, however, know that it does.
Professor Sattar believes there is evidence that people who have a heavier viral load, otherwise known as virus in a persons body, triggers a dangerous response by Covid 19.
Whilst it is yet to be proven, Sattar believes there is a critical interaction between fat cells and the immune systems response. People who are heavier have thicker blood, this much is known, so when fighting a virus is much more likely to clot and block vessels.
In a bid to fight the growing Obesity crisis, the Government have rolled out a plan to help get the world back into shape. As part of this plan, they are placing a ban on Junk Food adverts from 9pm.
The campaign also offers a variety of free apps, information and a 12 week NHS weight loss plan. The lockdown appears to have made a divide in the country, with some using it to get healthier whilst others have struggled.
There is a new PR campaign to assist with the “better health” movement. This is to help people commit further to the movement to kick start their healthy life; drink better, stop smoking and eat better. Prime Minister Boris Johnson shared his new ‘healthy lifestyle’ in a video across social media sites.
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