Boris Johnson has announced that he is leading a campaign to urge Brits to lose weight and improve their health.
The Prime Minister said: “Losing weight is hard but with some small changes we can all feel fitter and healthier.
“If we all do our bit, we can reduce our health risks and protect ourselves against coronavirus – as well as taking pressure off the NHS.”
Now, Dr Babak Ashrafi from UK-based online doctor, Zava UK, has revealed his tips to safely lose weight.
Speaking to Mirror Online, he said: “The first step to take when trying to lose weight is to look at your diet. You should try to eat a varied diet which includes plenty of vegetables, as well as some starchy foods such as bread, pasta and rice.
“You should limit white starchy foods (carbohydrates) if possible, and try to have the lower GI (glycaemic index) brown varieties instead. These release their sugars at a slower rate for longer, which means you stay sated for a longer period of time, and you don’t get spikes of sugar highs which you can do with white carbs.
“Fruit is good for you, and should form part of your daily diet, but beware that most fruits have a high sugar content, so don’t overindulge.
"Your diet should also include protein such as meat, fish, or beans and pulses.
“Cutting back on high calorie foods can also aid weight loss, so try to limit your consumption of fatty and sugary foods and drinks, including alcohol and sugary snacks.”
As well as looking at your diet, Dr Ashrafi also advises that Brits should exercise regularly, ideally for at least three hours a week.
He said: “Try to find an activity that you enjoy and that fits in with your current lifestyle to increase your chances of sustaining a fitness regime and keeping excess weight off.
“For anyone who starts exercising for the first time, or those who up their exercise regime, be careful not to overeat and compensate for those burnt calories; your brain may tell you you’re hungry and need to replace them, but make sure you moderate any increase in food intake as a result of increasing your activity.”
