Pandemic Povererty Vs The War On Obesity

Obesity raises the risk of dying from COVID-19 by 40%*, but with 1.1 million more people pushed into poverty by the virus**, is it possible to fight both?

- Anna Matheson

As the world continues to deal with the pandemic, it’s becoming clearer ripple effects will be felt long after a vaccine is created. With more than 100,000 job cuts planned during the crisis, and experts warning of more redundancies to come, the UK is officially in a recession. Without urgent action to protect families from financial hardship, 1.1 million more people could fall into poverty by the end of the year.

Almost two-thirds (63%) of adults in England are overweight or obese.*

Meanwhile, obesity can increase the risk of death from COVID-19 by a staggering 40%.

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So, as families grapple with the economic fallout, the Government is intensifying its war on obesity. MPs recommend those who are overweight l lose 5lb to reduce the risk and save the NHS £100million. Calories are to be displayed on menus, while media adverts for foods high in fat and sugar could be banned before 9 pm.

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But here’s the problem: there’s also a statistical link between poverty and obesity. Poverty isn’t the only factor driving obesity, yet it’s common for poorer children to experience lower quality diets, low in fruit and vegetables and high in fast food, compared to their more affluent peers. families living under the stress of poverty have to prioritize survival over losing weight, especially when healthy, non-processed foods are more expensive than convenience products.

We need to tackle both, but with the Government focussing on obesity. Woman's Own investigates if it’s really possible to solve one without the other.

‘You don’t always have the choice to buy fresh, healthy food’