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    1. Home
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    Tips on healthier eating and becoming more active

    Date published: 04 March 2025

    Set realistic targets for healthier eating, drinking and physical activity. Making small, manageable changes can help improve your health and wellbeing.

    Health risks

    Having a waistline of 37 inches or more for a man and 32 inches or more for a woman can put you at a greater risk of developing a number of serious health conditions, such as:

    • heart disease
    • stroke
    • some cancers
    • Type 2 diabetes 

    Your health could be at greater risk if you’re storing a lot of fat around your waist.

    Excess body fat is stored under the skin but also around the vital organs in the abdomen.

    Having a large amount of tummy fat could make you more likely to develop heart problems or Type 2 diabetes.

    Healthier choices

    Taking simple steps to move more and make healthier choices can help manage weight.

    Make changes to your diet and activity a little at a time. For example:

    • swap two sugars in your morning cuppa for one, then swap one for none
    • get off the bus one stop earlier and walk the rest of the way

    Top tips to make a difference:

    • be mindful of snacks 
    • cook healthier food – you can find ideas on Choose to Live Better 
    • get more active – a simple way to get started is to go walking
    • take it one day at a time
    • don’t deny yourself little pleasures now and again
    • ask your friends and family for their support
    • review your progress after a month, then three months and so on 

    By being mindful of what you eat, cooking healthier, and cutting out the extras, you can help reduce the risk of putting on the pounds.

    Being more active

    Getting more active is a great way to manage your weight.

    By fitting more steps into your everyday routine you can start to feel the benefits.

    • Physical activity

    By taking simple measures to move more, everyone can help manage their weight, as well as boost their mental health and reduce stress and anxiety.

    More useful links

    • Healthy balanced diet
    • Children and healthy weight
    • Healthy lives
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