Public Health England (PHE) has launched a major new adult health campaign, called ‘Better Health’, to encourage adults to eat better, lose weight and get active.
Everyone can benefit from taking steps towards having a healthier diet and getting more exercise. Data shows that 16.3% of Asian men and 23.6% of Asian women are living with obesity, putting them at greater risk of becoming seriously ill from diseases including cancer, heart disease, diabetes – and now Covid-19.
Data highlighted in a recent PHE report shows that obese people are significantly more likely to become seriously ill and be admitted to intensive care with Covid-19 compared to those with a healthy BMI.
The Better Health campaign, which forms part of the Government’s new Obesity Strategy, will specifically target groups that have higher rates of obesity including South Asians, black Africans and black Caribbeans.
The campaign will provide access to a range of tools, information, and advice to help people start their weight-loss journey. This includes the new FREE 12-week NHS Weight Loss Plan, available both online and via a new app, which offers exercise plans and healthy food options to help users lose and maintain a healthy weight.
Professor Kevin Fenton, London Regional Director at Public Health England, comments, “Gaining weight often happens gradually over time and can be just the odd unhealthy habit mounting up, but extra weight puts pressure on our bodies and reduces our strength to fight off serious diseases, including Covid-19.
“Covid-19 has given us a wake-up call to get our health back on track. We know how hard it can be to lose weight and keep it off – our Better Health campaign aims to make it easier for everyone to introduce changes that will help them maintain a healthy weight. It’s never too late, or too early, to make changes that will have a lasting impact on your health.”
Professor Wasim Hanif, Chairman Diabetes Working Group at the South Asian Health Foundation (SAHF) says,“The South Asian community is already predisposed to many serious health conditions that are exacerbated by being overweight or obese, such as type 2 Diabetes, heart disease and now most significantly, Coronavirus. As the latest figures reveal that over 16.3% of Asian men and 23.6% of Asian women are living with obesity, we support the Better Health campaign’s attempts to provide practical guidance to how we all can live a healthier life.”
TV Doctor Ranj Singh, says, “Being overweight or obese is a complex issue. It happens because of a number of reasons, both related to the individual and the environment that they are in. Blame doesn’t help anyone, and this is an issue we all need to tackle together. Being obese or overweight has a long-term effect on your health and is linked to many serious and preventable health conditions, such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease. The Better Health website provides lots of useful information to help people introduce changes and help manage their weight. Given that we are already at risk from certain health conditions, I encourage people within the Asian community to visit this website to access tools to improve the quality of their lives and help reduce their risk of serious disease.”
The Better Health campaign was developed with cooperation from local authorities, health charities, multi-cultural specialists, and experts in specific areas such as nutrition to ensure it is compatible with different communities. The campaign will also be supported by a range of weight management organisations including WW, weight watchers reimagined, Slimming World and GetSlim, who will be offering exclusive discounts to coincide with the launch.
Over the next few months, Better Health will include wider support to help people live healthier lives, with advice on quitting smoking and how people can look after their mental health.
PHE is also releasing a new film explaining how weight gain happens, the impact that it has on our bodies and how it increases the risk of serious diseases. The film helps people know when to act and encourages them to visit the Better Health website to find out about the available support. The Better Health campaign film is available online.
Along with black and South Asian communities, the Insights Report into Covid-19 and excess weight also highlights that being overweight is more prevalent in those aged between 55-74 years and people living in deprived areas. It also highlights that the health risk of excess weight for minority ethnic communities occur at a lower BMI than for White populations.
Visit nhs.uk/betterhealth for free tools and support to start leading a healthier lifestyle today.
Q&A with Professor Hanif Wasim on Better Health
- Does the Better Health campaign only target black and South Asian communities?
No, the new Better Health campaign was created to encourage all adults in England, particularly targeting those in mid-life (40-60 years of age), to eat better, lose weight and get active.
It also targets communities that have higher rates of obesity and increased rates of contracting and dying of Covid-19, such as South Asians, black Africans and Caribbeans.
Better Health provides a suite of tools and resources to help people reprioritise their health. This includes a new app for the free NHS Weight Loss Plan which helps users to make healthier choices, by providing up to date healthy eating and physical activity advice, enabling them to keep track of their calorie intake, portions of fruit and vegetables and physical activity levels. It also teaches skills to prevent weight gain.
- Why is obesity so much higher among BAME groups?
Data shows over 16% of Asian men and 23% of Asian women are living with obesity, putting them at greater risk of becoming seriously ill from diseases including cancer, heart disease, diabetes – and now Covid-19.
Regarding the South Asian community, there are a raft of factors which should be considered, that can have a profound impact on our weight.
Socio-economic factors can play a huge part. For example, people that live in deprived areas have higher levels of overweight and obesity compared with those that live in more affluent areas in England. Evidence in the PHE Disparities report reflect that ethnic minority groups are often living in more deprived areas.
Another consideration is our traditional cultural foods, as they remain an important part of cultural identity, and are a unifying theme that cuts across generations. Many South Asian households will have a blend of western and cultural foods in their homes which can lead to a high consumption of western sugary products as everyday foods and regular treats as well as cultural products.
- Is the Better Health campaign trying to scare people into losing weight?
Absolutely not – the benefits of achieving and maintaining healthier weight are well established – the Better Health campaign is simply encouraging millions of people to take this opportunity to ‘reset’ and kick start their health and reduce their risk of serious illness by working towards a healthier weight.
If people are overweight or living with obesity, lowering their weight can help reduce the risk of developing serious diseases. Many people recognise the ongoing threat of Covid-19 but may not realise that being overweight or obese increases their risk of serious illness or death from Civid-19.
- Why is the campaign being launched now?
The case for action on obesity has never been stronger and the Better Health campaign is one of a raft of measures that have been revealed as part of the Government’s new Obesity Strategy.
Losing weight can bring huge benefits for health and reduces our risk of serious illness – and may also help protect against the health risks of Covid-19.
- What does the evidence show about the links between Covid-19 and obesity?
The current evidence tells us 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 such as Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and certain cancers.
Data highlighted in a recent PHE report shows that obese people are significantly more likely to become seriously ill and be admitted to intensive care with Covid-19 compared to those with a healthy BMI.
Everyone can benefit from taking steps towards having a healthier diet and getting more exercise, and I encourage people within the Asian community to visit this website to access tools to improve the quality of their lives and help reduce their risk of serious disease. It’s never too late to take action, to benefit your health now and in later life.
Visit nhs.uk/betterhealth for free tools and support to start leading a healthier lifestyle today.
