A new Better Health marketing campaign has been launched by the Department of Health and Social care to support people to lose weight to prevent risks of developing serious illness and help reduce the risk of being hospitalised with COVID-19. Better Health is working with 15 weight management and physical activity partners who are providing free and discounted offers.

 

From reducing the risk of serious diseases such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease and up to 12 types of cancer, to lowering the chances of being hospitalised, the campaign highlights the serious health conditions which could be prevented by losing excess weight and offers free support and guidance to achieve this goal.

 

It is estimated that over three in five adults are at an increased risk from serious diseases because of being overweight. Losing just 5% of body weight can seriously reduce the chance of heart disease and could make all the difference in preventing treatable heart conditions.