FRESH &FIT

Keep those excess kilos off, says health writer Karen Evennett KNOW YOUR BMI CALORIES IN, CALORIES OUT

We’ve all been told, over and over, that carrying too much extra weight is bad for our health. But nothing has brought that message home more vividly than the Covid-19 crisis. With obesity seemingly one of the key drivers for a worse outcome from this disease, now is the time that we all need to think more about what we can do to maintain a healthy body size. We don’t know when we will finally be rid of this virus, so fight the flab now, before we get a second wave.

Age naturally takes its toll on our immune system, we’re told, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t carry on taking every step we can to keep it as strong and healthy as possible. And, although the science around immunity is growing all the time, the following new aids all deserve a second look to help keep you happy and healthy.

Are you a little bit over weight, or could you be full-blown obese? Your Body Mass

Index is calculated by dividing your weight in kilos by your height in metres squared, but there are plenty of online calculators that will do the maths for you.

Running, walking, cycling and swimming can all help to burn fat and kick-star t weight loss. And you also make gains as you star t to build more muscle – because muscles need to be fuelled, and they get their fuel by burning up calories.

Some activities leave you hungrier than others, but being calorie-conscious will help to stop you sabotaging your own ef for ts. Wor th knowing: you’ll need to walk for 60 minutes to burn off a 110g bar of Dair y Milk, 75 minutes for a litre bottle of Coca-Cola, or 280 minutes for a 500g tub of Ben & Jerry’s Peanut Butter Cup.

Macciochi (£14.99 Thorsons) will help you understand what’s really going on with your immune system.

● Nourish meal replacements (£15.80 for four drinks from nourishbyjaneclarke.com) combine all-organic ingredients with 26 essential vitamins and minerals, and zero additives or nasties.