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The truth about obesity and Covid-19

Are countries with higher obesity rates suffering from more deaths?

A widely reported study claims that 90% of Covid-19 deaths across the world happened in countries with high obesity rates. While an individual’s risk of death is increased by having a high Body Mass Index, the broader effect on a country’s death rate is not what it seems.

(Photo: Old fashioned scale magnifies a heavy weight. Credit:Getty images)

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9 minutes

Last on

Mon 15 Mar 202110:50GMT
BBC World Service except East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa

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Broadcasts

  • Sat 13 Mar 202102:50GMT
    BBC World Service News Internet, Europe and the Middle East & East Asia only
  • Sun 14 Mar 202102:50GMT
    BBC World Service Americas and the Caribbean, UK DAB/Freeview, East and Southern Africa, Online & West and Central Africa only
  • Sun 14 Mar 202115:50GMT
    BBC World Service East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa only
  • Sun 14 Mar 202122:50GMT
    BBC World Service
  • Mon 15 Mar 202110:50GMT
    BBC World Service except East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa

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