'Buy one get one free' offers to be curbed on unhealthy foods in Milton Keynes, where three in five adults are overweight

The government initiative comes after Public Health England revealed obese people are three times as die from Covid and seven times as likely to need ventilation.

It was announced this week that multibuy offers and buy one get one free promotions will be res "buy one get one free" promotion will be restricted on all unhealthy food April 2022.

In Milton Keynes 62 per cent of adults were classed as overweight or obese in 2018-19, the latest period for which data is available.

During the same period, the rate of people admitted to MK hospital with obesity-related conditions was 1,503 per 1000,000 population. More than 70 per cent of the overweight patients were female and the majority were aged between 35 and 64.

The government announced on Monday that the new restrictions will apply to foods high in fat, salt or sugar. These include soft drinks, crisps, cakes, crisps, some breakfast cereals and ready meals.

Experts believe extra weight does not mean someone is more likely to catch Covid but it can inhibit their immune system's ability to fight off the virus.