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Reuters
Reuters
Health

Britain's Johnson says he was too fat when fighting COVID

Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson leaves Downing Street to deliver his Conservative Party Conference virtual keynote speech, in London, Britain, October 6, 2020. REUTERS/Toby Melville

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he was too fat when he became gravely ill with COVID-19 and that he has since lost 26 pounds (11.79 kg).

"I have to admit the reason I had such a nasty experience with the disease is that although I was superficially in the peak of health when I caught it, I had a very common underlying condition - my friends I was too fat," he said in an online speech to his party conference.

"And I've since lost 26 pounds...and I'm going to continue that diet."

(Reporting by William James and James Davey; writing by Kate Holton; editing by Sarah Young)

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