Residents urged to join major healthy living campaign in Peterborough and Cambridgeshire to help reduce coronavirus death risk and improve lifestyles

Supporting the new national Better Health - Let’s Do This campaign that the Prime Minister launched , ‘BMI Can Do It’ is a new movement developed specifically for the local community to support their journey towards a healthier lifestyle.

In Cambridgeshire, 62.1 per cent of people are overweight, while that figure rises to 70.6 per cent in Peterborough, Meanwhile, more than 40,000 people in the county have Type 2 Diabetes, a type of diabetes that can be managed and even go into remission through positive lifestyle changes.

The push for people to embrace a healthier lifestyle comes as a new study published by Public Health England has found that for people with a BMI of 25 to 40 their risk of death from Covid-19 increases by 40 per cent.

For those with a BMI of more than 40 it increases by 90 per cent compared to those with a healthy BMI.

When looking at intensive care units during the pandemic, 7.9 per cent of critically ill patients with Covid-19 had a BMI of more than 40 compared to 2.9 per cent of the general population.

Dr Jessica Randall-Carrick, a local GP and lead for obesity and diabetes at the NHS Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), said: “We all know our shoe size, our clothes size and our height, but most people don’t know their BMI. The single best thing you can do for your health, and for the NHS, is reduce your BMI if yours is too high – so knowing your BMI is a crucial first step.

“If you have a higher than recommended BMI then you are at a higher risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes, cancer or having a stroke or heart attack. We also know that you are at greater risk of serious health consequences if you contract Covid-19, which is why we want to help encourage people to join our movement to eat well, sleep well and move more.

“We know it’s not always easy, but by taking those first steps towards a healthier lifestyle you will have a positive impact on your health. That’s why we are asking everyone to say BMI Can Do It and get involved.”

The movement sets out a range of challenges for people to undertake individually, among groups of friends or work colleagues. They are easy to follow, do not require any specialist equipment or gym membership and are suitable for everyone, from those starting out on the healthy living journey to those already undertaking regular exercise.

They focus on eating well, sleeping well and moving more and are combined with a range of support tips and tools.

Driven by the NHS and supported by a range of local partners, BMI Can Do It is designed to help people get healthier and happier over the coming months.

The movement is part of a wider programme of activity supported by an investment of up to £1 million by Cambridgeshire and Peterborough CCG which includes specialist services delivered via the NHS for those who need further support to manage their weight or Type 2 Diabetes.

Dr Gary Howsam, local GP and chair of the CCG, added: “Never before have we invested so much time and resource into improving the health of our local community by supporting them to make positive lifestyle changes.

“By working together as a local health and social care system we can really make a difference to the lives of so many local people – helping to improve their mental and physical wellbeing at the same time as protecting the NHS. I’d encourage everyone to join the movement today and join me on one of our challenges.”

You can take part in the campaign by visiting www.bmicandoit.co.uk or by following @BMICanDoIt on Instagram and Twitter,

You can also search for BMI Can Do It on Facebook or through the hashtag #BMICanDoIt.

The campaign is set to develop and grow over the coming months, with further updates to be shared by the CCG in the near future.