DISEASES caused by modern day life can be avoided with simple lifestyle changes – that is the message from health bosses at East Sussex County Council.
The county council’s public health team are backing Public Health England’s ‘One You’ campaign aimed at helping adults avoid future diseases caused by everyday habits and behaviours such as eating too much unhealthy food, drinking more than is recommended, continuing to smoke and not being active enough.
Cynthia Lyons, Acting Director for Public Health, said: “Modern day life can make it difficult for people to live the kind of lifestyle that helps them stay fit and healthy now and in later life.
Living healthily in middle age can double the chances of being healthy at 70 and beyond. “‘One You’ gives people the opportunity to assess their lifestyle choices, make positive changes and help to do something about their health before it’s too late.”
In East Sussex, 64 per cent of adults have excess weight and more than a quarter (27 per cent) are physically inactive while, on average, around 17 per cent of adults smoke1.
It is estimated that everyday habits and behaviours are responsible for around 40 per cent of all deaths in England2 and cost the NHS more than £11 billion a year3.
The ‘One You’ campaign helps people in East Sussex move more, eat well, drink less and be smoke free. It will also provide information on how people can reduce their stress levels and sleep better.
Latest figures show that life expectancy is at record levels, yet many are spending more of their life in ill health. Living more healthily can help prevent conditions like type 2 diabetes, cancer and heart disease while reducing the risk of suffering a stroke or living with dementia, disability and frailty in later life.
Cynthia added: “I’d encourage everyone to take a look at the ‘How Are You?’ quiz online and get advice on positive changes that you can make to improve your health.
“The quiz and website provides personalised recommendations based on people’s results and is full of advice and tools which will help users improve their lifestyle and wellbeing, helping them to take action where it is most needed.”
The ‘How Are You?’ quiz can be found at http://po.st/OneYou_East_Sussex
1 Information from the Public Health Outcome Framework (accessed March 2016)
2 Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (HME)
3 A total of £3.5bn (alcohol costs), £2bn (smoking costs), £6.1bn (Overweight and obesity)