Campaign encourages healthy living in middle age

This week marks the launch of One You, a new campaign to help adults avoid future diseases caused by modern-day life.

Everyday habits and behaviours - such as eating too much unhealthy food, drinking more than is recommended, continuing to smoke and not being active enough - are responsible for around 40 per cent of all deaths in England, and cost the NHS more than £11billion a year. One You aims to encourage adults, particular those in middle age, to take control of their health to enjoy significant benefits now, and in later life.

In Northumberland, one in six adults smoke, seven in 10 adults are overweight or obese and one in three are not physically active. Two in five do not eat their 'five-a-day’, five in six adults drink alcohol and three in 10 of those are estimated to drink more than the recommended level.

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The new campaign from Public Health England will help adults in Northumberland to move more, eat well, drink less and be smoke-free. One You will also provide information on how people can reduce their stress levels and sleep better. It is encouraging adults to start by taking a new online health quiz, called How Are You, which provides personalised recommendations based on your results and directs people to tools and advice to help them take action where it’s most needed.

Northumberland's director of public health, Penny Spring, said: "Modern-day life makes it hard for people to live healthily with bigger portions for everything we eat, a desk-bound job or a long commute. One You gives people the chance to reappraise their lifestyle choices, put themselves first and do something about their own health before it’s too late."

For more information and to take the How Are You online quiz, visit http://www.northumberland.gov.uk/Care/Health.aspx#publichealth