PEOPLE in Shotton have gained an average of five pounds during lockdown, a weight loss clinic has said.

In a survey of more than 2,000 UK adults, Bodyline Weight Loss and Wellness Clinics found that putting on weight and overeating was cited by 38 per cent of respondents as their main concern (aside from catching coronavirus).

It was by far the most popular answer, ranking higher than money (11 per cent), not seeing family or friends (11 per cent) and mental health (9 per cent).

Yet despite these concerns, 75 per cent said they’d been eating more because of the stress of the current situation and 74 per cent admitted to having put on weight.

The survey also found that the average UK adult has put on nearly half a stone (6lb) since March when lockdown measures were announced by the UK Government.

In Shotton, the location of one of Bodyline’s nine weight loss clinics, 40 per cent of respondents had put on weight in lockdown, 10 per cent of these said they had put on more than a stone.

The average amount of weight gain for those from Shotton was five pounds.

Factors behind the huge numbers overeating included boredom (50 per cent) and stress/anxiety (20 per cent).

Being obese has now been identified by scientists as a major risk factor for developing more severe symptoms with coronavirus, with those classed as obese having a 33 per cent greater risk of dying from the disease.

According to the health survey for England, 28.7 per cent of the UK population is classed as obese, with a further 35.6 per cent being overweight but not obese.

Sally-Ann Turner, Bodyline’s managing director said: “The results of this survey confirm our belief that health and wellbeing is a top priority for most people at the moment, especially as scientists are finding more links between obesity and the most severe COVID-19 symptoms.

“Many of our clients have a very difficult relationship with food. They come to us having tried many other pathways to losing weight, all of which have failed.

"As they’ve started making headway with their weight loss (some for the first time in their lives) they were then forced into lockdown, so it’s understandable why so many of them are worried about being set back.”