Effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on body weight in people at high risk of type 2 diabetes referred to the English NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme
Letter notes that the stay-at-home policies in England due to the COVID-19 pandemic have coincided with a small but clinically significant increase in mean body weight in people at high risk of type 2 diabetes (0.68 kg; 95% CI 0.49–0.87; p<0.0001).
Source:
The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology
SPS commentary:
Women, younger people and those from more deprived areas were most affected. The national clinical director for diabetes and obesity who produced the findings, said the findings highlight the importance of the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme, which has helped 405,000 people since it was first established in 2016. Latest NHS data show that people completing the programme typically achieve an average weight loss of 3.3 kilograms, and 3.6 kilograms for those who are overweight or obese, reducing their risk of type 2 diabetes significantly.