Two thirds of adults in Maldon are living with obesity or are overweight.

The latest figures from Public Health England reveal that two in three adults in Maldon were living with obesity or overweight and could be at risk.

A staggering 66.6 per cent of adults in 2018/19 were classified as overweight or obese.

Research suggests that obesity can increase the risk of death from COVID-19 by as much as 48 per cent and could also make vaccines against the disease less effective.

Since the start of the Covid-19 crisis, MoreLife, which is commissioned by West Essex and South Essex Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) to offer free weight management programmes in those parts of the county, has adapted its services for residents.

The provider works with CCGs, GPs and local community partners to signpost residents most in need of the free service.

The 12-month programme, which has supported over 1,700 Essex residents, is now delivered in virtual group sessions which are run by an expert team of nutritionists, psychologists and sport and exercise specialists for anyone with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of over 35 or anyone over 32.5 with type 2 diabetes.

Paul Gately, Professor of Exercise and Obesity at Leeds Beckett University and CEO of MoreLife said: “The Public Health England evidence is clear that people who are suffering from obesity or are overweight are at greater risk of serious illness or death from Covid-19."