Healthy eating, healthy weight

Being overweight can  be bad for your health.  It can increase your chances of developing diabetes, some cancers, heart and liver disease.  

We need to aim for a balance between the energy we take in from our food and drink and the energy we use up during physical activity.  

 

Healthy eating

Eating a balanced diet will help with weight loss and staying at a healthy weight.

A balanced diet includes:

  • lots of fruit and vegetables
  • starchy foods such as bread, potatoes, rice and pasta 
  • reducing the amount of fatty and sugary foods such as biscuits, cakes, chocolates, and sweets

 

Being active

Being physically active is also important in losing weight and in helping to maintain a healthy weight.  

Adults should be active for at least 30 minutes on 5 days a week, children for at least 60 minutes a day.  

This activity can be built up throughout the day by walking more, cycling, doing the housework/gardening or washing the car.  It doesn't have to mean going to the gym.

 

Support in Sefton

Find out more about Choose to Lose, our free healthy eating and weight management course here.

Active Sefton offers health and fitness programmes tailored to your needs.  These include: 
  • specialist weight management
  • physical activity programmes
  • family-based, for those with children aged 7-16yrs old

Go to the Active Sefton website for more information.

The Healthy Sefton phone line has information about lots of activities available in Sefton, including weight management courses, local walks, bike rides, cookery classes and Sefton’s breastfeeding support service

Phone 0300 100 1000 to find out more

 

Useful websites

 

NHS Choices' 'Live Well' webpages have lots of information on healthy eating and weight management.

Use the NHS Choices NHS Choices calculator to work out your Body Mass Index (BMI) and see if you are overweight. 

www.eatwell.gov.uk  has information on healthy eating for different age groups, health issues, food safety and food labelling .

The NHS Change 4 Life website has ideas to help you eat well, move more and live longer.  

www.breastfeeding.nhs.uk is all about breastfeeding including benefits, how to do it and who can help.

www.amazingbreastmilk.nhs.uk has breastfeeding information, including mums talking about their experiences.


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