Obese Brits are among the vulnerable groups who may be asked to stay at home this August if a second wave of coronavirus infections bloom.
The government is believed to be considering a “more sophisticated model” for shielding ahead of winter to avoid another national lockdown.
Part of the plan is to use a more focused approach – a “stiletto not a sledgehammer” – by selecting people who are especially vulnerable to the effects of the virus and asking them to stay inside, a cabinet minister told The Sunday Telegraph.
Officials are looking at NHS data on vulnerable groups in preparation for a second wave, it is reported.
These groups could include obese Brits and the over 50s.
A cabinet minister said: “They are understanding that age does come into it."
He continued: “The shielding cohort is way too broad.
“You can’t say that every fat person has to shield – it will be more subtle.”
Since the beginning of August, millions of shielding individuals were finally told they could leave their homes.
For some, it was the first time in four months.
However, in Northern England, tight restrictions have been imposed on Greater Manchester, parts of Lancashire and West Yorkshire.
The Northern lockdown aimed to reduce the rates of infection in the areas after numbers soared.
Statistics show that a large number of people who will contract the killer virus have a BMI of over 25.
People with obesity more often require intensive care and present challenges in patient management due to their size.
Health systems are often not set up to handle patients who are obese – they often need special beds and transport equipment and diagnostic imaging can be more difficult to obtain, reports World Obesity.
The NHS says one in every four UK adults is obese.
And as part of the government’s attempt to protect people from the virus, a new anti-obesity strategy has been announced.
The Better Health campaign is designed to help people to lose weight.
Daily Star's newsletter brings you the biggest and best stories – sign up today
Strategies include a free NHS weight loss plan which is accessible via app.
It allows users to plan their meals, customise the plan to their BMI, record activity and set targets.
There are also discounts on plans like Weight Watchers, Slimming World and Second Nature.
And, there’s a free NHS Fitness Studio which offers online videos from aerobics to strength, yoga and pilates.
Boris Johnson announced the new campaign, and said: “Losing weight is hard, but with some small changes, we can all feel fitter and healthier.
“If we all do our bit, we can reduce our health risks and protect ourselves against coronavirus – as well as taking pressure off the NHS.”
Source: Read Full Article