Call to make it a healthy new year
ADULTS in Halton are being urged to consider their health after two thirds of people in the North West being were classified as overweight or obese.
Public Health England (PHE) is encouraging people to eat better, be more active, stop smoking and consider their drinking as we enter 2017.
The PHE said that 30% of adults in the North West were classified as inactive – doing less than 30 minutes of at least moderate intensity physical activity per week in bouts of 10 minutes or more.
A total of 20% of adults aged 18 years and over smoke according to PHE, and smoking was attributable to an estimated 75,000 hospital admissions of people aged 35 and above.
There were also 3,600 alcohol-related deaths in the region in 2013 and nearly 38,000 alcoholrelated hospital admissions in 2013-14.
PHE has released a quiz called How Are You, which records lifestyle information, gives a health score and links to free personalised information, apps and other tools.
It is part of the health organisation’s One You campaign and is reaching out to the 83% of 40 to 60-year-olds (87% of men and 79% of women) who are either overweight or obese, exceed the Chief Medical Officer’s alcohol guidelines, or are physically inactive.
It aims to provide free support and tools to help ● them live more healthily in 2017 and beyond.
PHE North West’s deputy director for health and wellbeing, Dr Rebecca Wagstaff, said: “People are busy with work, with families, with the daily grind and sometimes their own health is the least of their priorities.
“The How Are You Quiz will help anyone who wants to take a few minutes to take stock and find out quickly where they can take a little action to make a big difference to their health.”
More than 1.1 million people have taken the quiz so far and where appropriate, been directed to apps such as Couch To 5K, Alcohol Checker and Easy Meals. For more information and to take the quiz,, visit www.nhs. uk/oneyou/how-are-you