eople at high risk of diabetes joining a Government weight loss programme during the pandemic had more pounds to lose than those who began it beforehand, an NHS study suggests.
Research shows those enrolling on the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme (DPP) during 2020 and the start of 2021, were on average around five pounds (2.4kg) heavier than those starting the programme during the previous three years, NHS England said.
It is estimated that a gain of one kilogram, or 2.2lb, can increase someone’s risk of the condition by around 8%.
The new study, published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, compared the weight of people at high risk of type 2 diabetes who started the programme between April 1 2020 and March 31 2021 with those who joined it between April 1 2017 and March 31 2020.
It found people under 40 were the most affected, with those who started the scheme during the pandemic an average of eight pounds heavier than those enrolling before this point.
Professor Jonathan Valabhji, NHS national clinical director for diabetes and obesity who produced the findings,…
