Hundreds of thousands of people have put on weight during the coronavirus lockdown, a new poll indicates, despite a British government drive to cut down national obesity.
Almost 450,000 users of the Covid Symptom Study app increased their weight during lockdown, accounting for 29 per cent of those taking part in the study.
Prof Tim Spector, a lead researcher who helped to set up the app, said UK’s obesity problem had been worsened by strict lockdown.
Of 1.6 million people who responded to a questionnaire about behavioural changes during lockdown, 34 per cent decreased their exercise and 35 per cent said they had increased snacking.
Nineteen per cent were eating less healthily than before and 27 per cent were drinking more alcohol.
On average, the survey found that people were 0.78 kilograms heavier since the outbreak began.
Britain first went into strict lockdown in mid-March, before easing measures from late May.
On November 2, it returned to lockdown for at least a month after coronavirus cases soared.
The public are advised to stay at home except for exercise, medical reasons or shopping for essential goods.
Recent studies have shown that being overweight can dramatically increase the risk of admission to hospital and death due to Covid-19.
“Typically people snack to or three times a day and this accounts for 22 per cent of total energy intake," said Sarah Berry, associate professor in the Department of Nutritional Sciences at King’s College London.
Dr Berry is also the principal scientist advising Zoe, the healthcare company behind the app.
“The increase in snacking during lockdown, especially with unhealthy, highly processed foods is likely to be a contributing factor in our observed weight gain of the UK population,” she said.
“Replacing unhealthy snacks with healthy snacks and limiting late-night snacking, is a simple dietary strategy to improve health.
"But we shouldn’t use these findings to shame people about their weight, especially during these difficult times.
"Instead, we should focus our efforts to help everyone lead healthy lifestyles that are sustainable.”
Prof Spector said it was important the British public understood the effects that lockdown might have on their long-term health.
“If we don’t act now, this will create even more heart disease, diabetes and cancer, leading to even larger medical and social bills for the country,” he said.
The government plans to introduce a total ban on online junk food advertising, but Prof Spector said that “isn’t going nearly far enough”.
“We need tougher measures like extending sugar taxes to junk food and subsidising fresh fruit and vegetables," he said.
"With these and much better public education, we have the opportunity to have a real impact on health in the UK.”
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has blamed his own obesity for his near brush with death, when he contracted Covid-19 in April.
In July, he formally launched his government's initiative to reduce obesity levels.
One in every four British adults is obese, while one in every five children aged 10 to 11 in the UK are very overweight, National Health Service data shows.
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
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Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
Pox that threatens the Middle East's native species
Camelpox
Caused by a virus related to the one that causes human smallpox, camelpox typically causes fever, swelling of lymph nodes and skin lesions in camels aged over three, but the animal usually recovers after a month or so. Younger animals may develop a more acute form that causes internal lesions and diarrhoea, and is often fatal, especially when secondary infections result. It is found across the Middle East as well as in parts of Asia, Africa, Russia and India.
Falconpox
Falconpox can cause a variety of types of lesions, which can affect, for example, the eyelids, feet and the areas above and below the beak. It is a problem among captive falcons and is one of many types of avian pox or avipox diseases that together affect dozens of bird species across the world. Among the other forms are pigeonpox, turkeypox, starlingpox and canarypox. Avipox viruses are spread by mosquitoes and direct bird-to-bird contact.
Houbarapox
Houbarapox is, like falconpox, one of the many forms of avipox diseases. It exists in various forms, with a type that causes skin lesions being least likely to result in death. Other forms cause more severe lesions, including internal lesions, and are more likely to kill the bird, often because secondary infections develop. This summer the CVRL reported an outbreak of pox in houbaras after rains in spring led to an increase in mosquito numbers.
MATCH INFO
Who: France v Italy
When: Friday, 11pm (UAE)
TV: BeIN Sports
Tips from the expert
Dobromir Radichkov, chief data officer at dubizzle and Bayut, offers a few tips for UAE residents looking to earn some cash from pre-loved items.
- Sellers should focus on providing high-quality used goods at attractive prices to buyers.
- It’s important to use clear and appealing photos, with catchy titles and detailed descriptions to capture the attention of prospective buyers.
- Try to advertise a realistic price to attract buyers looking for good deals, especially in the current environment where consumers are significantly more price-sensitive.
- Be creative and look around your home for valuable items that you no longer need but might be useful to others.
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
The Vile
Starring: Bdoor Mohammad, Jasem Alkharraz, Iman Tarik, Sarah Taibah
Director: Majid Al Ansari
Rating: 4/5
2021 World Triathlon Championship Series
May 15: Yokohama, Japan
June 5: Leeds, UK
June 24: Montreal, Canada
July 10: Hamburg, Germany
Aug 17-22: Edmonton, Canada (World Triathlon Championship Final)
Nov 5-6 : Abu Dhabi, UAE
Date TBC: Chengdu, China
