Most of us could be a little bit healthier, whether it’s by making changes to what we eat, drinking more water or being more physically active.
GPs in Southwark are supporting National Obesity Week this week (9-15th January), encouraging local people to consider looking at making small lifestyle changes to either prevent or address obesity.
It’s a startling fact that 1 in 4 adults in the UK are considered obese and trends suggest this could rise to above 50 per cent – 1 in 2 – by 2050.
Healthy living isn’t just about healthy eating; it’s also about being physically active and making the right choices. This could mean choosing snacks that are full of goodness rather than sugar and fat; or changing the way we cook our food – for example, grilling is far more healthy than frying. And being physically active doesn’t have to mean hours spent running or high subscription charges at the gym – it could be as simple as getting off the bus a couple of stops earlier and walking the rest of the way, or taking the stairs instead of the lift.
The best way to treat obesity is to eat a healthy, reduced-calorie diet and to exercise regularly. It is important to avoid situations where you know you could be tempted to overeat, while setting realistic goals, and involving your friends and family with your attempts to lose weight can also help.
Making small, positive changes like these can not only improve our health, and that of our families and friends, but can also reduce the demands on our hospitals and local health services.
Anyone who is concerned about their weight, or other aspects of their health, is advised to start by taking the One You quiz, a series of questions intended to assess your overall health and make suggestions about how you can improve it. The quiz is at www.nhs.uk/oneyou and looks not only at weight, but also sleep, stress, smoking and alcohol.
Good luck!