OVERWEIGHT people are being asked to lose five pounds to save the NHS money and help lower the risk of dying from coronavirus as part of the Government's new obesity crackdown.

Boris Johnson, when he unveils his obesity strategy on Monday, will signal an end to confectionery displays at store checkouts and ban junk food adverts on TV before 9pm as he looks to encourage Britons to shed the pounds.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock, speaking in the Telegraph, set anybody classed as overweight a goal.

He said: "If everyone who is overweight lost five pounds it could save the NHS over £100 million over the next five years.

"And more importantly, given the link between obesity and coronavirus, losing weight could be lifesaving."

The Prime Minister has already revealed how his own brush with Covid-19, which saw him require intensive care in April, convinced him of the need to tackle obesity.

Two-thirds of UK adults are above a healthy weight, according to Government data, and one in three children aged 10 to 11 are overweight or obese.

Mr Johnson told BBC News on Friday: "One thing, by the way, that I think did make a difference - for me and for quite a few others - is the issue, frankly, of being overweight.

"And that's why we need to tackle our national struggle with obesity."

Mr Johnson, who said he has lost a stone since his illness, has argued that being "fitter and healthier" would help people to "withstand coronavirus" and protect the NHS.

Dr Alison Tedstone, chief nutritionist at PHE, which will lead the campaign, said: "These plans are ambitious and rightly so.

"Tackling obesity will help prevent serious illness and save lives."

The Obesity Health Alliance, a coalition of more than 40 leading health organisations, medical royal colleges and campaign groups, praised the targeting of promotional offers.

But UKHospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls criticised the timing of the extra impositions on restaurants and pubs.

"As we focus on securing jobs and helping the economy and communities to recover, a raft of costs and regulatory burdens would be a slap in the face," she said.

Labour shadow health minister Alex Norris, criticising the three consultations announced in the strategy, said: "We've had big promises before from Tory ministers on banning junk food advertising only for measures to be kicked into the long grass of consultation.

"But an effective obesity strategy needs action, not consultation."