The food industry is back in the spotlight as evidence mounts that a poor diet is a significant factor behind increased mortality from COVID-19.
Research from the US Centre for Disease Control examining 99 countries and 14 states in March has shown that 60 per cent of patients aged 18-49 hospitalised with the virus were obese. It was also the biggest risk factor in people aged 50-64. At the same time, obesity was also an underlying condition in 41 per cent of patients over the age of 65 with high blood pressure being prominent in over 70 per cent of cases.
Medical professionals are now calling for public health messages to be updated as a matter of urgency. London Cardiologist Dr Aseem Malhotra told the BBC that “the time is now to tell the public to change their diet” and we “could significantly reduce risk of dying from COVID-19 by changing your diet.” He went on to explain that as, well as improving diet, “30 minutes of exercise is the best thing you can do for your health” to reduce the risk of succumbing to the coronavirus.
Read the article and find links to the report HERE.
