Health - NEWS - OBESITY INCREASES THE RISK OF DEATH FROM CORONAVIRUS BY UP TO 90%, report finds

Public Health England report found risk of hospitalisation or death from Covid-19 grows substantially as BMI increases

Obesity increases the risk of serious illness or death from Covid-19 by up to 90 per cent, a report from Public Health England (PHE) has found.

Although some data suggests that more people have exercised during lockdown, evidence indicates that the nation’s exercise levels have not increased overall since before the pandemic, the report found. Meanwhile, snack food and alcohol sales have increased from high street shops. Current evidence does not suggest that having excess weight increases people’s chances of contracting coronavirus, but people with the illness who are overweight are much more likely to be admitted into hospital and be critically ill in intensive care compared to those with a healthy body weight, with certain groups at higher risk.. Read more HERE