Keeping an active lifestyle
Keeping active does not have to be about putting lots of time and money into the gym. There are lots of easy ways to build regular activity in to your day to help you maintain a healthy weight.
There are different guidelines for other age groups:
It may seem difficult to fit activity into a busy schedule, especially if you are looking after your family, your home and working at the same time. However, there are some easy things that you can do to try and be more active that can fit around your lifestyle:
Here are some more tips on fitting regular activity into your lifestyle:
It is also important to be aware of if your child is overweight. It is common for overweight children to become overweight adults. Children who are a healthy weight tend to be fitter, healthier, more confident and better able to learn. There are some things that you can do to help your child achieve a healthy weight:
Keeping active and eating a nutritious, balanced diet are the main ways to maintain a healthy weight. Obesity is one of the main health issues facing the UK – we have the highest level of obesity in Western Europe - 1 in 4 British adults are classed as obese. In Bradford, statistics show that every 7 in 10 adults you know are will be classed as overweight or obese. In Europe, it is estimated that being overweight or obese contributes to every 1 in 13 deaths*.
You might think that being overweight just has an impact on how you look, but it can also affect your quality of life and lead to issues such as low self-esteem and depression. Being overweight or obese can also lead to a number of serious and potentially life-threatening health conditions, including:
There are lots of free online resources that can help you keep active:
Bradford Council has lots of information on their website about local sports and leisure facilities, including personalised slimming groups such as Healthy4Life and Active Bradford. They have a mobile app that you can download to find your local leisure centre and fitness class timetables.
You can also be referred to the Bradford Encouraging Exercise in People (BEEP) programme by your GP or health professional. More details about BEEP are available on their website.
You can also get involved in ParkRun Bradford, a weekly free, 5k timed run, every Saturday at 9am, Lister Park. You can join in no matter what your level – beginner or pro – all you need to do is register on the website before your first run.
Find more ways of managing your own health on our website.
*http://www.observatory.bradford.nhs.uk/SiteCollectionDocuments/5.1.1%20Obesity%202014.pdf