The Western Health Trust with support from the Public Health Agency (PHA) marked National Obesity Week by encouraging their staff and the general public to join in with a National New Year’s Resolution to Choose to Live Better.
Both organisations are asking members of the public to consider whose waistlines are creeping up on them to look to a change in lifestyle.
Anyone who needs to lose a few pounds is encouraged to make a small lifestyle change such as becoming more physically active, cutting down on their fat and sugar intake or replacing unhealthy snacks with an extra portion of fruit or veg a day!
National Obesity Awareness Week 2014 is intended to raise awareness of obesity and encourage the public to make positive steps in order to prevent and address obesity.
As of the Choose to Live Better campaign, awareness sessions were organised for Trust staff in the Altnagelvin Hospital, Tyrone County Hospital and the South West Acute Hospital sites to promote a healthier lifestyle.
Western Trust dieticians were available at the main hospital sites to give advice on healthy eating and offer waist measurements to staff, the catering team offered Healthy Eating Meal deals in the staff restaurants and the Health Improvement Department organised lunchtime walks, all of which gave staff the opportunity to Choose to Live Better’ in 2014.
Gillian Browne, Western Trust obesity specialist dietician said obesity was a great public health issue and it was important to address the issue.
She added: “Unfortunately, there is no magic wand for tackling obesity and therefore it is imperative that communities come together to consider what steps they can take to promote their health and wellbeing by maintaining a healthy weight.”
The Western Trust have put together a short clip to encourage people to make healthy living choices in 2014! To view the clip, click on: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6LXFa-tjwWo.
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