Impact of obesity on COVID-19 symptoms

Coordinated and sustained investment and action to make a difference

“The new UK Obesity Strategy is a step in the right direction because it includes considerable investments into both prevention measures and expanded NHS treatment and care services for those already living with obesity, “ says Tiffany Petre, Director of the Obesity Collective, based at the University of Sydney Charles Perkins Centre

“It is important to remember that obesity is a systems challenge where we will need coordinated and sustained action across society. It is not only about personal responsibility and behaviour change, there are also strong social, genetic, biological and environmental influences outside of people’s control.

“There is much more that needs to be done to take on the challenge of obesity on a community level, but the UK strategy is a good start. The developing Australian National Obesity Strategy is currently on hold but when finalised it will also need to have tangible action and investments in prevention and treatment of obesity to make a difference.”

The Obesity Collective is a charity platform for committed individuals and organisations from across the community to take on the obesity challenge together, with empathy and a whole of society perspective.