Better Health Greater Essex campaign launches

Better Health – Let’s do this! Let’s get Essex fighting fit for winter!

A new campaign has launched aiming to support Essex residents to get moving and get healthy, to prevent serious illness from a second wave of coronavirus.

The Better Health Greater Essex campaign, run by Active Essex and Essex County Council (ECC), offers a wealth of ideas and resources to inspire people to kick start and maintain a healthier lifestyle.

It builds on the national Better Health campaign by providing local and targeted help to those most at risk from coronavirus and other health conditions in Essex, Southend and Thurrock.

The launch coincides with the inaugural Great British Week of Sport which runs from 19 to 27 September and Healthy Eating Week (28 September to 4 October).

Better Health Greater Essex offers:

• simple activities to do outside
• over 200 Keep Essex Active workout and gentle exercise videos to follow
• ideas on how to get active from the comfort of your own home
• tips on taking care of your wellbeing
• weight management support with ACE (Essex) Everyone Health (Southend) and Thurrock Healthy Lifestyle Service

Coronavirus has been a wake-up call for us all. People who are at greater risk of being admitted to hospital if they contract Coronavirus include:

• those who are inactive and overweight
• older people
• Black, Asian or from an ethnic minority
• those who live in more disadvantaged areas
• those who are clinically extremely vulnerable or with long term health conditions

In Essex, 63% of adults are overweight or obese, just above the national average of 62%.

Evidence shows that keeping moving builds your resilience against COVID-19, other winter illnesses and diseases like diabetes, heart disease and cancer.

And many people are keen to get active; Sport England says 70% of adults used activity to manage their physical health during lockdown. A national social study found 35% would like to exercise more once the pandemic is over.

Cllr John Spence, ECC’s Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care said: “With coronavirus cases on the rise and winter on its way it is now more important than ever that we all stay as healthy as we can. The campaign will help Essex residents understand the opportunities to get moving and ways to eat healthier. Small lifestyle changes, such as watching what you eat and moving more can make a big difference.”

Dr William Bird, national physical activity expert said: “Now is the time for inactive people to start moving to prevent serious illness from a second wave of Covid-19. The huge benefits that come from an active lifestyle are proven and evidence across the world is indisputable. Physical activity is for everyone, it can be fun and inexpensive. We want to help prepare people for winter and kick start Essex’s healthier and more active lifestyle.”

Mrs Taylor attends online classes in Epping Forest. She said: “I wasn’t interested in doing exercise for quite a while but doing it at home means I can move at my own pace and it feels personalised to me. I have improved each week and am now doing things I couldn’t do at the start of the sessions. I’m also motivated to keep doing it, which is a first for me!”

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