Whatever stage of life we and our families are in, it’s important to stay healthy and age well.
Both poor health, and around 40% of all deaths of adults in England, is related to everyday habits and behaviours – such as eating too much unhealthy food, not being active enough or smoking.
Food is essential to life and a major influence on health and general wellbeing. Eating a balanced, nutritious and safe diet is vital for physical and mental wellbeing and protects against many diseases throughout life.
A diet high in fat and sugar is behind many serious illnesses such as cancer, type 2 diabetes and heart disease. It is responsible for an increasing proportion of ill health and increasing rates of obesity. It is important that everyone has the correct information about food to give them and their family a balanced diet.
The NHS Better Health campaign website can help you avoid future diseases caused by modern lifestyles. It helps you take control of your health by eating a healthier diet, drinking less alcohol, exercising more, and quitting smoking.
Take this online health quiz to identify where you can make changes in your life.
Services in Salford
Adults
You can get one-to-one or group support about your diet, losing weight or getting more active from the following services:
- Weigh Ahead groups are for adults looking to lose weight. Weigh Ahead is about making long term changes that people can keep up, not quick fixes
- Tier 1 (universal service): The 6 week programme is mainly group based but a 1-2-1 service can be provided
- Tier 2 (BMI 30 – 34.9): a 12-week programme; providing both group and 1-2-1 support
There are Weigh Ahead groups at different locations across Salford and sessions are online.
It is aimed at adults looking to lose weight with a BMI between 30 – 34.9. This bespoke weight management service provides access to nutritional and exercise advice, behaviour change support and further goal setting as required, including 1-1 sessions and Trim your Weigh drop-in and weigh sessions.
- MoreLife have been successfully delivering weight management programmes for over 20 years. Programmes are for adults with a BMI of 35+ and are:
- Flexible – tailored to meet your needs and the needs of the group
- Accessible – face-to-face groups are held at a variety of local venues, with telephone, text Skype and online support between groups
- Sociable – delivered in a supportive, group setting
- Psychologically informed – we don’t tell you what to do, rather we’ll help you to understand how thoughts, emotions and feelings influence your decisions
- Evidence-based – strong links to Leeds Beckett University mean all programmes are based on the latest, cutting-edge research
Children and families
The Red Pepper programme from the Health Improvement Service is for children and their families. Support is flexible around individual family need; both individual and group programmes are available, and support is available face to face or via regular phone or video calls. Each family is different, so we’ll find activities that interest you and tailor our support to meet your needs. We will also post ideas for activities for you to keep healthy and active as a family on the Health Improvement Service Facebook page and Health Improvement Service Twitter.
Other useful links
- NHS Healthy Weight – Information and advice for adults and children about healthy weight, including how to find out if you’re a healthy weight.
- NHS Eat Well – Information on eating a healthy, balanced diet to feel at your best.
- NHS Change4life - Easy ways for all the family to eat well and move more.