Eight out of 10 of the middle aged either weigh too much, drink too much or don’t exercise enough, as new analysis from Public Health England (PHE) shows modern life taking its toll on health.
PHE’s One You campaign is reaching out to the 83% of 40 to 60 year olds (87% of men and 79% of women) who are either overweight or obese, exceed the Chief Medical Officer’s (CMO) alcohol guidelines or are physically inactive, to provide free support and tools to help them live more healthily in 2017 and beyond.
Modern life is harming the health of the nation: 77% of men and 63% of women in middle age are overweight or obese. Obesity in adults has shot up 16% in the last 20 years. Many also can’t identify what a ‘healthy’ body looks like; suggesting obesity has become the new normal.
The diabetes rate among this age group also doubled in this period in England. Obese adults are more than five times more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes than those who are a healthy weight (a body mass index between 18.5 and 25). Ninety per cent of adults with diabetes have Type 2.
People are being urged to take a moment to consider their health and the simple steps they can take to improve it in the run up to the New Year, by taking the One You online quiz.
People need to eat better, be more active, stop smoking and consider their drinking.
The quiz, called ‘How Are You’, takes your lifestyle information, gives you a health score and then links to free localised, personalisable information, apps and tools.
More than 1.1 million people have taken the quiz so far and where appropriate, been directed to download our apps like Couch to 5K, Alcohol Checker and Easy Meals. Nearly a quarter of a million people have subsequently downloaded Couch to 5K.
These sit alongside PHE’s other online tools like the Heart Age tool which gives you your ‘heart age’ based on your age and lifestyle and we would also encourage people to take up their NHS Health Check invitation when they receive it.
Mike McDermott, Associate Director of Public Health at East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said: “Getting to know your own health is important and where tools are available to encourage our motivation to be healthy, where possible I would encourage people to use them.
“We all have busy lives and most of us have access to smart devices, such as mobile phones where it we can download the apps like Couch to 5K, Alcohol Checker and Easy Meals.
“I would also encourage people in the East Riding to respond to their invitation for a NHS Health Check.”
Professor Kevin Fenton, Director of Health and Wellbeing Public Health England, said: “People are busy with work, with families, with the daily grind and sometimes their own health is the least of their priorities.
“The How Are You quiz will help anyone who wants to take a few minutes to take stock and find out quickly where they can take a little action to make a big difference to their health.”
Professor Sir Muir Gray, Clinical Adviser for the One You campaign, said: “The demands of modern day living are taking their toll on the health of the nation, and it’s those in middle age that are suffering the consequences most, as their health reaches worrying new levels.
“Over 15 million Britons are living with a long term health condition, and busy lives and desk jobs make it difficult to live healthily. But just making a few small changes will have significant benefits to people’s health now and in later life.”
Search ‘One You’ to take the ‘How Are You’ online health quiz.
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