Eating a healthy, balanced diet and keeping active are important factors in maintaining good health and wellbeing across all ages.
What is a healthy diet?
A healthy, balanced diet involves eating a wide variety of nutritious food and drink in the right proportions to achieve and maintain healthy body weight. It is recommended that men have around 2,500 calories a day and women around 2,000 calories a day. A poor diet is linked to poor health and illness such as Type 2 Diabetes, Cancer and Stroke to name a few.
Where can you get help and advice?
If you are concerned about weight, MoreLife provides free adult and child weight management services for individuals and families who live in Central Bedfordshire and meet the eligibility criteria. Its sessions cover a range of topics including healthy eating, physical activity and body image to help support sustainable change in a fun and friendly environment.
You can ask your GP or health professional to refer you to MoreLife or refer yourself online.
Keeping active
An active lifestyle is also important to prevent illness and improve our physical and mental wellbeing, helping us to feel our best. The amount of physical activity we need to do to stay healthy depends on our age. Find out how much activity is recommended for your age group.
Where can you get help and advice?
Find local sport and physical activity sessions.
Exercise referral
This is a 12-week course based at one of our Leisure Centres. It includes gym-based activities and some other sessions using a variety of activities to suit your exercise needs. Your GP can refer you for this programme as it takes into account your health and wellbeing. After your referral, our Physical Activity Team will be in touch to arrange a meet and greet session.
Online resources
Change4Life is designed for families with young children in mind. It features healthy eating tips, quick and easy family recipes, fun activities for kids and lots more.
ONEYOU provides tips on how you can eat better, lose weight and keep active. There are downloadable apps, such as the 'easy meals' and the 'couch to 5k'.
The NHS' website provides information on how to eat well, exercise and understands what your weight means.
National Childhood Measurement Programme (NCMP)
Children have their height and weight measured in reception and year 6 as part of the National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP). This information is used to plan and provide better services for children and families. If your child's NCMP letter surprised or worried you, you can call the number on your results letter for advice and support or speak to your school nurse or GP.