Public Health England's Better Health campaign encourages people to eat better and get active – and with more people conscious about their own physical health there has never been a better time to get involved.
Latest figures show 63% of adults in the UK are overweight or living with obesity. This extra weight causes pressure to build up around vital organs, making it harder for the body to fight against conditions like cancer, heart disease and now Covid-19.
Councillor Jasbir Jaspal, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing, said: "Covid-19 has affected the whole country; for almost everyone, life has had to fundamentally change. But it has also prompted many people to reflect and think more seriously about their health and wellbeing.
"What’s more, people have been surprised by how they have been able to change their behaviour, with lockdown showing many that they can make and sustain necessary changes to their lives.
"By seizing the moment and taking this opportunity to reduce your weight within a healthy range, you can cut your risk of being critically ill with Covid-19 and many other conditions.”
To improve their health and wellbeing, individuals should aim to have a BMI below 25 and above 18.52. The National Institute for Clinical Excellence recommends that Black, Asian and minority ethnic groups have a BMI below 23 and above 18.5 to avoid risks to health.
The Better Health campaign provides tools to help people manage their weight loss – from checking their BMI, to getting access to free support tools including the NHS 12-week weight loss plan, which promotes evidence-based safe and sustainable weight loss. In the future, the campaign will also provide advice and support for quitting smoking, drinking less and good mental health.
For more information please visit NHS.
The latest information and guidance around coronavirus is available at GOV.UK and on the council’s own coronavirus pages at Coronavirus advice and information. There’s lots of advice on how people can protect themselves and their families from coronavirus from the NHS at Coronavirus (COVID-19).
The council’s Stay Safe, Be Kind campaign offers clear and simple advice about how people can help themselves, and how they can support others who may be particularly vulnerable at this time. For more information, please visit Stay Safe, Be Kind.
