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UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a new health campaign that could help decrease obesity cases in the country.
Called Better Health, the campaign involves training general practitioners (GPs) to guide patients in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. GPs will encourage obese patients to take weight management classes and follow a meal and fitness plan for 12 weeks.
Under the campaign, restaurants and fast-food chains will be required to include calorie counts on their menus. In addition, stores will not be allowed to display unhealthy foods near checkout counters or include them in buy-one-get-one promotions.
According to a report, two-thirds of adults in the UK are obese, and one out of three children is overweight by the time they finish primary school.
The National Health Service is concerned about surging obesity cases because they have been linked to other illnesses such as diabetes and cancer, which cost the government over $7 billion each year. Obesity is also a major risk factor for heart attacks and strokes.
Johnson, who is considered overweight, launched the campaign after he tested positive for Covid-19 and recovered last April. He was alarmed when his doctors told him that his excess weight had aggravated his condition. Johnson acknowledged that losing weight may be difficult, but he encouraged people to make lifestyle changes that could make them healthier.
UK officials hope that curbing the number of obesity cases in the country will, in turn, help them prevent a possible second wave of Covid-19.