Stop buying biscuits to avoid obesity, urges professor
There is “no time like the present” for obese people to try to lose weight in the face of Covid-19, a leading obesity expert has said.
Susan Jebb, professor of diet and population health at the University of Oxford, said losing weight was always a good option for the obese. However, a growing body of evidence suggests those who are obese suffer worse outcomes from coronavirus than those who are slimmer.
It follows a University College London-led study last week that found that obesity increases the risk of dying from coronavirus by 37 per cent.
A new study from a team at Glasgow University also found that being obese doubles the risk of going to hospital because of severe coronavirus symptoms.
Prof Jebb said: “From the evidence, it’s becoming increasingly clear that people with obesity are more likely to have severe complications, they’re more likely to be admitted to intensive care and they’re more likely to sadly die from their infection.
“While we don’t have research to tell us what will happen to your risk if you lose weight say over the next month, it is as important as ever to try to control your weight.” She said the current environment, with people mostly staying at home and not being tempted by unhealthy foods in cafes, restaurants and takeaways, meant people had a greater degree of control.
“The first thing to do is to stop buying biscuits and other such foods,” she said. “The point is that whilst we’re in lockdown, if things are not in your house and in your immediate vicinity you are far, far less likely to eat them.
“There are all sorts of barriers to going out and popping to the shops at the moment, so not having these foods in the house is a great start.
“Take control of what I’d call your ‘micro environment’ – the space we’re now living in.
“Make sure you have only got healthy things in the house, plan your shopping and plan your meals.
“We know that structure and planning really helps people manage their weight.”
She said those who were overweight should also, if they had time, embrace this period for doing exercise.
But she stressed that “diet is always going to be the most important thing”, adding: “While physical activity is always good, you’ve got to get a grip on what you’re eating.”
Prof Jebb also urged people to turn to support groups such as Slimming World and Weight Watchers or free online support groups.
“There is very good research evidence that people who sign up to formal weight loss programmes do better than people trying to do it themselves,” she said.
“Many of these run online now and there is a lot of support there. People tend to have more success with a plan and that’s partly because there’s a structure, there is social support, and there is a regularity to it. But you don’t always need to pay. Things like the free Couch To 5K actually helps a lot of people start running for example.”
Prof Jebb stressed that exercise can be seen as a positive thing during lockdown.
“Getting exercise takes you out of the house and away from the biscuit tin,” she said.