Sponsored Editorial

Whether it's new moves, new habits or trying healthier food, there are lots of simple ways to kickstart your health in 2023.

Over 3 in 5 adults in Kent (63% of the adult population) are at an increased risk from serious diseases as a result of being overweight or living with obesity.

The NHS has identified six benefits with losing weight: decreased risk of common cancers, heart disease and developing diabetes, lowered risk of increased blood pressure, less strain from chronic back and joint pain and decreased risk of becoming seriously ill with COVID-19.

One You Kent is your local healthy weight support service that supports the national Better Health campaign from the NHS with lots of free tips, tools and support to help plus local support services at www.kent.gov.uk/healthyweight.

This includes a range of online tools such as healthy eating recipes and the NHS Weight Loss Plan app which has been proven to help people lose 5.8kg on average over just 12 weeks.

Nutrition tips if you’re trying to lose weight:

• 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.

If you’re eating on a budget, try to plan meals and write a shopping list – don’t go shopping when you’re hungry, you’ll be less likely to make impulse buys. Buy the shop’s own brands, choose seasonal fresh fruit and vegetables, and stock up on tinned or frozen fruit and vegetables as they’re just as good for you!

One You Kent has teamed up with Better Health to offer a range of healthy eating recipes from www.kent.gov.uk/healthyweight.

You can also find information there on local activities including healthy walks.

Physical Activity tips include:

• When it comes to exercise, some are 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.

KCC Director of Public Health, Dr Anjan Ghosh said: “Our ambition is to help Kent residents to identify and tackle poor key lifestyle behaviours including inactivity and unhealthy eating.

“If you want to lose weight, eat better or get active, Better Health and One You Kent have lots of free help and support to get you started which can range from a self-referral into a local group, or you may prefer online self-help including apps, a range of recipes and simple tips and tools. Small changes every day can help people to lose weight and feel healthier.”

For local One You Kent support services and links to the national Better Health campaign, go to www.kent.gov.uk/healthyweight.