Healthy weight healthy notts
The Great Swapathon
The 'Great Swapathon' is the Change4Life theme for 2011. NHS Nottinghamshire County wants people to make simple swaps to their lifestyles which will see them become healthier and more active.
To get 2011 off to a great start, here are a few examples to get people going:
- Swap fizzy drinks for water, unsweetened juice or milk.
- Swap fry-ups for grill-ups.
- Swap fries for oven chips.
- Swap a packet of crisps for a handful of unsalted nuts.
- Swap milkshakes for homemade fruit smoothies.
- Swap sugary cereal for wholegrain cereal.
- Swap ice-cream for low-fat frozen yogurt.
To help people on their swapping journey an online tool has been launched on www.change4life.co.uk. Once they have filled out a quick questionnaire they will receive a tailored Swapathon plan. This will include the six best swaps for them to try.
Mums and Dads in Nottinghamshire are being encouraged to get their families to swap unhealthy habits for healthy ones, as part of the new Change4Life campaign.
The Challenge
There has been a huge rise in the number of overweight and very overweight people worldwide which is proving to be a major challenge and threat to our health.
The World Health Organisation (WHO 1998) has described this huge rise as a 'global epidemic'. Improving the health and well being of local people is a priority for NHS Nottinghamshire County, to halt the rapid rise of obesity.
What are we doing to help you maintain a healthy weight?
We have ambitions to reduce the increase of obesity and overweight in the people of Nottinghamshire and we will work together to ensure that everyone is able to achieve and maintain a healthy weight.
Current priorities for Nottinghamshire include:
- Working in partnership with other local organisations
- To support a healthy weight in children through healthy eating and physical activity
- To promote healthier food choices for adults and children in a range of settings
- To ensure that physical activity is encouraged throughout life
- To encourage healthier workplaces
- To maintain and develop access to advice and support on diet, weight and physical activity for adults and children
What causes people to become overweight or obese?
Quite simply we are eating too much and moving too little!
Recent statistics suggest that 7 out of 10 adults do not take enough exercise.
Three in ten boys and four in ten girls aged 2 to 15 are not doing enough exercise.
Read more: What causes people to become overweight or obese?Exercise Referral Scheme
NHS Nottinghamshire County in partnership with local authorities commission exercise referral programmes to support people to be active through physical activity. The scheme is delivered by 5 district and borough councils across the county of Nottinghamshire.
The main objective of the exercise referral scheme is to increase the physical activity levels and improve self assessed health in patients who have a range of health needs. In addition, the scheme aims to reduce body mass index and blood pressure.
Read more: Exercise Referral Scheme
