Council launches healthy living campaign to stem rising obesity rates

With New Year’s resolutions still fresh in the mind, Bury Council is launching a healthy living campaign to encourage people to consider the health impacts of being overweight.

The council’s campaign coincides with National Obesity Awareness Week (9-13 January) and is aimed at raising awareness of the effects that obesity and other lifestyle choices have on our overall health and wellbeing.

The campaign will include a community road show at Asda Bury on Friday 13 January (11am to 2pm) and residents are invited to come along and speak to experts from local services including the Lifestyle Service, Bury Leisure and Helping Yourself to Wellbeing course.

Councillor Trevor Holt, chair of the council’s health and wellbeing board, said: “In Bury, we know that 70% of adults are considered to be overweight, around 7% have diabetes and, in England, 40% of all adult deaths are related to the effects of diet, inactivity, smoking and alcohol. It’s clear that we need to work with people to support them to make better lifestyle choices, improve their health and wellbeing and self care.

“With New Year, the time has never been better to make plans for the year ahead. Simple changes like cooking meals from scratch, eating less salt and sugar and being more active can make a massive difference to how you feel. Making and sticking to those New Year’s resolutions can really pay off with better health further down the line.”

Many diseases and long-term health conditions that arise in later life are linked to behaviour when younger. Research shows that 42% of adults in middle age are living with at least one long-term health condition that could increase their risk of early death or disability. Action taken now can pay dividends in later life and extend life expectancy.

The NHS now spends more than £11bn a year treating illnesses related to lifestyle choices and these costs could be slashed if people eat a healthier diet, be more active, stop smoking and drink less alcohol.

The council’s healthy living campaign highlights that, while the effects of obesity can be far-reaching for individuals and their families, there is a wealth of advice and support available in Bury to help people achieve their resolutions to eat well, move more and take better control of their lifestyle choices.

Services like the Bury Lifestyle Service, Bury Exercise and Therapy Service (BEATS) and courses like the council’s Helping Yourself to Wellbeing (HY2W) course offer free advice and support for residents to lose weight, eat well and do more physical activity.

You can find out more about the council’s healthy living campaign and support available on the Bury Directory. Alternatively, you can follow the campaign on social media. Look out for tweets and facebook posts from @burycwb and @burycouncil, or use twitter hashtags #NOAW2017 or #OneYouBury.

ENDS

Press release issued: 11 January 2017.