Boris Johnson today admitted he was ‘too fat’ when he was hospitalised with coronavirus as the Prime Minister launched the Government’s new anti-obesity drive.
Mr Johnson said that since his recovery from the deadly illness he has focused on getting fitter by going on morning runs with his dog Dilyn.
He is urging the nation to follow his lead, insisting the Government’s ‘better health strategy’ will help people to ‘bring their weight down’ and better protect the NHS.
However, he insisted ministers will not be ‘excessively bossy or nannying’ in telling people what to do.
The Prime Minister’s comments came as Health Secretary Matt Hancock said if overweight adults were to lose five pounds in weight it could save the NHS £100 million.
Boris Johnson said he was ‘too fat’ before he was hospitalised with coronavirus and that he had now lost more than a stone since his illness
The Prime Minister said morning runs with his dog Dilyn had helped him to lose weight and improve his fitness
The UK is the second fattest country in Europe with two-thirds of adults above a healthy weight, according to Government data, and one in three children aged 10 to 11 are overweight or obese.
The Government’s new anti-obesity strategy, launched today, spells the end of confectionery displays at store checkouts and a ban on adverts for foods high in fat, sugar and salt on TV before 9pm.
Deals such as ‘buy one get one free’ on unhealthy foods will also be banned, while alcoholic drinks could soon have to list their calorie content.
Placing sugary and fatty items in prominent locations in stores will be stopped, including at checkouts and entrances, and online.
Instead, shops will be encouraged to promote healthier choices and offer more discounts on healthy food such as fruit and vegetables.
The Government will also hold a consultation on whether the ban on online adverts for foods high in salt, sugar and fat should apply at all times of the day.
Mr Johnson said in a video posted on Twitter to mark the launch of the strategy that ‘like many people I struggle with my weight’ and he had ‘always wanted to lose weight for ages and ages’.
‘But since I have recovered from coronavirus I have been steadily building up my fitness,’ he said.
‘I don’t want to make any excessive claims because I have only just started concentrating on it but I am more than a stone down.
‘When I went into ICU, when I was really ill, I was way overweight. I am only about five foot ten and I was too fat.
‘I start the day by going for a run with the dog – quite a gentle run but actually getting faster and faster now as I get fitter.
‘The great thing about going for a run at the beginning of the day is that nothing could be worse for the rest of the day.
‘If you really go in hard, if you really take some exercise at the beginning, the rest of the day will be a breeze.’
Mr Johnson said the ‘number one’ benefit of losing weight is that you ‘feel much better’ and feel ‘more full of energy’.
He continued: ‘The other thing obviously is if you can get your weight down a bit and protect your health you will also be protecting the NHS.
‘Gyms are great but you don’t need to have a gym. There are amazing things on your phone these days, amazing apps, fantastic trainers that you can watch on YouTube.
‘What we are doing now with our better health strategy is just trying to help people a little bit to bring their weight down – not in an excessively bossy or nannying way, I hope.
‘We want this one really to be sympathetic to people, to understand the difficulties that people face with their weight, the struggles that everybody faces, that many, many people face, to lose weight and just to be helpful.’
The UK is the second fattest country in Europe with two thirds of adults above a health weight
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said if everyone who is overweight lost 5lbs it could save the NHS £100m
Mr Hancock echoed a similar sentiment, writing in The Telegraph: ‘If everyone who is overweight lost five pounds it could save the NHS over £100 million over the next five years.
‘And more importantly, given the link between obesity and coronavirus, losing weight could be lifesaving.’
When it comes to calorie labelling, new laws will require large restaurants, cafes and takeaways with more than 250 employees to add calorie labels to the food they sell.
A new campaign to help people lose weight, get active and eat better after Covid-19 is also being pushed out as a ‘wake-up call’ to the nation.
This will include more self-care apps and online tools and accelerating the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme.
From next year, doctors will be offered financial incentives to ensure those who are obese are supported to lose weight, such as prescriptions for exercise and bike rides.
GP practice staff will also have the opportunity to become ‘healthy weight coaches’ though training delivered by Public Health England.
The highly interventionist approach marks a U-turn for Mr Johnson, who until recently has been a vocal opponent of ‘sin taxes’ and perceived ‘nannying’ by the state.