Better Health Adult Obesity Campaign

A new adult obesity campaign from Better Health has launched to encourage adults across the nation to lose any excess weight, eat more healthily and get active this summer.

Over 1 in 4 of us has put on weight since the first lockdown in March 2020, according to recent research. We’ve been doing more comfort eating and snacking, alongside staying at home more. Now it’s time to get our health back on track.

Around two-thirds (63%) of adults are above a healthy weight, and of these, half are living with obesity. Obesity puts us at risk of a range of chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, at least 12 kinds of cancer, liver and respiratory disease, COVID-19 and can impact mental health.

Extra weight puts pressure on our bodies, making it harder for us to fight off chronic diseases. But small changes every day, like the ones suggested in the campaign, can help us lose weight and feel healthier.

The new campaign is positive and energetic, designed to motivate people to make healthier choices. It empathises with how we’ve got here and focuses on the small steps that can be taken to lose weight and feel healthier.

The campaign encourages people to use evidence-based support, such as the free NHS Weight Loss Plan app, which has been shown to help people lose nearly a stone (5.8kg) on average over just 12 weeks.

Better Health offers a variety of free tools and support that can help people to lead a healthier lifestyle. They are working in partnership with a number of weight management and physical activity partners who are providing both free and special discounted offers.

The Better Health website has a range of tools to help people change their eating habits, get more active and lose weight including:

•             NHS Weight Loss Plan app

•             NHS Couch to 5K app

•             NHS Active 10 app

•             NHS Drink Free Days app

 All the above apps are free and can be downloaded via the App Store or Google Play.

When it comes to losing weight and feeling healthier, it’s not about getting it right but getting started. Whether it’s new moves, new foods or new habits, there are lots of simple ways to kickstart your health in 2023. To visit the Better Health website and get started today click on the link below.

Here are some key tips for healthy weight loss:

• Search ‘Better Health’ or visit nhs.uk/BetterHealth for free tools and support to start leading a healthier lifestyle today. Let’s do this!
• Try to aim for around 1,400 calories a day if you’re a woman and around 1,900kcals if you’re a man. 
• Snack less – no more than twice a day – and go for veg based ones. If you’re having packaged snacks go for those with around 100 calories and stick to two a day max.
• Check the ‘traffic light’ labels and go for foods and drinks with more greens and ambers and less reds.
• When it comes to fruit and veg – the more the better! Get your 5 A Day. They’re low in calories. 
• When it comes to exercise, some is good, but more is better still – the more time you are active, the greater the health benefits. Remember every minute counts!
• It is never too late to get active to improve your health, so start small and build up starting from 10 minutes of brisk walking a day.