New research has shown that severe obesity can increase the chances of death from coronavirus by as much as 90 percent.
British people will be asked to try to slim down after a report by Public Health England revealed the alarming increase in likelihood of death from Covid-19 in relation to obesity.
The government is expected to begin an urgent campaign to slim the nation down so as to minimise the risk of hospitalisation and death, in the event that the virus is caught.
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Obviously, the nation has been forced to endure months confined to their homes with no access to the gym, but increased availability of snacks and snacking time.
Despite that, there has been an increase in sales of bikes and exercise equipment, which can only be a positive thing.
The Public Health England review discovered that, despite this uptick in sales of fitness stuff, overall activity levels have decreased during the pandemic, which is to be expected when everyone can't leave the house freely.
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The study found that the risk of hospitalisation, needing intensive care treatment, and death 'seem to increase progressively with increasing BMI (body mass index) above the healthy weight range'.
Other factors that increase the risk include age, ethnicity - those from BAME backgrounds are more likely to be at risk of serious issue - and sex.
However, obesity is seen as one issue that can be remedied, and the government is expected to produce a plan to bring the nation's weight under control.
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The PHE said that weight 'may be one of the few modifiable risk factors for Covid-19'.
Susan Jebb, a Professor of Diet and Population Health at Oxford University, told The Guardian: "I will be really pleased if we'll see the Prime Minister stepping up and acknowledging that obesity is one of the biggest public health problems this country faces, that's been brought to the fore by Covid.
"Actually, it's something that we've kind of known all along, but it's just never got to the top of the government's to do list."
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Almost two thirds of adults in the UK are currently obese, which is thought to be one of several reasons that the death toll in the UK has been the highest in Europe.
PHE chief nutritionist Dr Alison Tedstone added: "The current evidence is clear that being overweight or obese puts you at greater risk of serious illness or death from Covid-19, as well as from many other life-threatening diseases. The case for action on obesity has never been stronger."
Featured Image Credit: PA