Boris Johnson's late nights with expensive red wine, cheese and chorizo seem to be over. After recovering from the coronavirus, the Prime Minister has changed his lifestyle.
By getting in better shape, the British can protect themselves against the coronavirus and at the same time reduce the pressure on healthcare, says Boris Johnson in a video published on Twitter.
- I have wanted to lose weight for years and just like many I struggle with weight, I go up and down. But since I recovered from the coronavirus, I have steadily built up my physique, says the Prime Minister.
- Now I have lost at least six kilos, but when I was admitted to the intensive care unit and was very ill, I was overweight. (...) I was too fat.
New health offersOn Monday, the British government launches a comprehensive health campaign to tackle the "timed obesity bomb".
Among other things, 2 for 1 offers and advertising for junk food are now banned before nine o'clock in the evening. It will also be mandatory to provide information about calorie content on British menus.
More than 60 percent of adult Britons are estimated to be overweight or obese, according to the country's public health authority.
"A push"Johnson's party colleague Helen Whately also urges Britons to eat less, citing a study showing that those with a BMI over 40 have a doubled risk of dying if they are infected with covid-19.
During his time as a politician, Boris Johnson has been a strong critic of over-guardianship.
In the video on Twitter, he points out that he hopes that the new health campaign is not too dominant, but instead acts as a gentle push for Britons to get to grips with their health and get in shape.