Eat less to reduce Covid-19 death risk

British people should eat less to lose weight as being obese increases the risk of dying from the novel coronavirus, junior health minister Helen Whately said as UK yesterday unveiled a plan to tackle obesity problem in the country.

Restaurants will have to display calories on menus under plans announced by the British government.

Other measures outlined include bans on "buy one get one free" deals on unhealthy items, junk food television adverts being aired before 9pm and a "consultation" on placing calorie labels on alcohol. Another potential measure announced on Monday was a proposal to ban the placing of sweets and chocolate bars at supermarket checkouts.

It is not the first time a British government has attempted to do something about the country's bulging waistlines, but this latest attempt has been prompted by the pandemic.

Analyses show that nearly eight percent of critically-ill patients in intensive care units with the virus were categorised as morbidly obese, compared with less than three percent of the general population. 

A Public Health England study published on Saturday found that obesity increased the risk of death from coronavirus by 40 percent.

Two-thirds of UK adults are above a healthy weight, with 36 percent overweight and 28 percent obese, according to government data.

"Losing weight is hard but with some small changes we can all feel fitter and healthier," Prime Minister Boris Johnson said.Johnson required intensive care treatment in April after catching the virus.

The British premier has previously criticised government attempts to spur weight control but said the latest initiative would not be enforced "in an excessively bossy or nannying way".