As part of National Obesity Awareness Week 2015, Sefton Council is encouraging people in the borough to consider looking at small lifestyle changes they can make to reduce their weight.
Little things such as smart swaps or looking at their portion sizes can all help in trying to tackle obesity.
The council is supporting National Obesity Awareness Week (January 12-18) by asking people and families to join others across the UK to make a national New Year’s resolution to improve theirs and the nation’s health and make small changes to live a healthier lifestyle.
In Sefton obesity is a major problem, as it is nationally, with 51% of women and 61% of men being overweight or obese. National Obesity Week is focusing on three core themes to tackle this – physical activity, raising awareness of what we eat and drink and supporting individuals and families who are overweight and obese to help them achieve a healthy weight.
In Sefton Food and Health workers will be raising awareness during the week and the core themes in nearly 20 schools, nurseries and children’s centres, across the borough. This will also link in to Change4Life’s Sugar Swaps campaign aimed at encouraging families to make a small swap to their everyday food and drink, to cut back on sugar in their diet.
Sefton is also raising awareness of portion size by using the eatwell plate in the cookery, healthy eating and weight management courses.
Cllr Paul Cummins, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Older People and Health, said: “Sefton Council welcomes the National Obesity Awareness week to help us raise awareness of this issue in Sefton. We have many initiatives across the borough to help adults, children and families achieve a healthy weight.
“Active Sefton have activities for all ages and abilities to improve your physical fitness, there are also cookery and weight management courses to help teach residents healthy cookery and ways to get to and maintain a healthy weight.”
Dr Janet Atherton, Sefton Council’s Director of Public Health, said: “Obesity can lead to a number of serious and potentially life-threatening conditions including type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke and cancer.
“However, small lifestyle changes such as being more physically active, following a healthy, balanced diet and cutting down on sugary snacks can make all the difference.
“Making these small changes can have a huge impact on your health and wellbeing and National Obesity Awareness Week is a great opportunity to look at how we can live healthier lifestyles.”
The campaign also aims to encourage people to make a New Year’s resolution. Visit twitter using the hashtag #noaw for more information or the visit the National Obesity Awareness week website.
For more information visit our Active Sefton pages or the Healthy Sefton website.
Submit News Contact us with your community, business or sport news. Phone 07581350321 or 07930717137
Email ots@otsnews.co.uk
Twitter www.twitter.com/onthespot_news
Facebook www.facebook.com/otsnews.co.uk
Instagram www.instagram.com/otsnews