MAKING INFORMED CHOICES MAKING INFORMED CHOICES ABOUT HEALTHY, ACTIVE ABOUT HEALTHY, ACTIVE

LIFESTYLESLIFESTYLES

The characteristics of a balanced, The characteristics of a balanced, healthy lifestylehealthy lifestyle

Studies have shown that a balanced, Studies have shown that a balanced, healthy lifestyle will help you to feel healthy lifestyle will help you to feel better and live longer. Taking better and live longer. Taking exercise, not drinking too much exercise, not drinking too much alcohol, eating enough fruit and alcohol, eating enough fruit and vegetables and not smoking can add vegetables and not smoking can add up to 14 years to your life.up to 14 years to your life.

Research involving 20,000 people over 10 Research involving 20,000 people over 10 years found those who did not follow a years found those who did not follow a healthy lifestyle were four times more healthy lifestyle were four times more likely to have died than those who did. The likely to have died than those who did. The findings held true regardless of how findings held true regardless of how overweight or poor the people studied overweight or poor the people studied were. The findings showed that it was in were. The findings showed that it was in the reduction of deaths related to the reduction of deaths related to cardiovascular disease that people cardiovascular disease that people benefited mostbenefited most

Which things contribute to a Which things contribute to a healthy, balanced lifestyle?healthy, balanced lifestyle?

Eating a healthy and balanced dietEating a healthy and balanced dietRegular exerciseRegular exerciseMaintaining a healthy body weightMaintaining a healthy body weightNot smokingNot smokingSensible alcohol consumptionSensible alcohol consumptionMinimising stressMinimising stress

Regular exercise – current Regular exercise – current government recommendationsgovernment recommendations

AdultsAdults – a minimum of 30 mins – a minimum of 30 mins moderate physical activity on five or moderate physical activity on five or more days a week.more days a week.

Children and young people aged 5-18Children and young people aged 5-18 – should participate in physical – should participate in physical activity of moderate intensity for one activity of moderate intensity for one hour a dayhour a day

An unhealthy lifestyleAn unhealthy lifestylePoor dietPoor diet – e.g. excess fat, sugar, – e.g. excess fat, sugar, salt, protein and insufficient complex salt, protein and insufficient complex carbohydrate, vitamin/mineral and carbohydrate, vitamin/mineral and fluid intake.fluid intake.Inactivity and lack of exerciseInactivity and lack of exercise..Being overweightBeing overweight, which increases , which increases risk of certain types of cancers, high risk of certain types of cancers, high blood pressure, heart disease and blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes.diabetes.

An unhealthy lifestyleAn unhealthy lifestyleSmokingSmoking, which causes lung cancer, heart , which causes lung cancer, heart disease, chronic bronchitis, emphysema disease, chronic bronchitis, emphysema and is a risk factor for many cancers.and is a risk factor for many cancers.Excess alcohol consumptionExcess alcohol consumption, which , which increases risk of liver disease, and mouth, increases risk of liver disease, and mouth, throat and oesophageal (food pipe) throat and oesophageal (food pipe) cancer, and can contribute to obesity.cancer, and can contribute to obesity.High stress levelsHigh stress levels, whether associated with , whether associated with work, ineffective time management, or work, ineffective time management, or general lifestyle habits.general lifestyle habits.

An active lifestyle involving regular exercise An active lifestyle involving regular exercise often leads to the following benefits:often leads to the following benefits:

A corresponding recognition of the importance of A corresponding recognition of the importance of a balanced, healthy diet. This in turn helps to a balanced, healthy diet. This in turn helps to control weight, reduce cholesterol, reduce the control weight, reduce cholesterol, reduce the risk of certain cancers and diabetes and increase risk of certain cancers and diabetes and increase energy levels.energy levels.It keeps the heart muscle in shape and makes the It keeps the heart muscle in shape and makes the heart a more efficient pump, reducing the risk of heart a more efficient pump, reducing the risk of high blood pressure and heart disease.high blood pressure and heart disease.It can also lead to psychological benefits such as It can also lead to psychological benefits such as promoting a feeling of well-being, favourable promoting a feeling of well-being, favourable body image and improved self esteem.body image and improved self esteem.It can also reduce stress and promote a better It can also reduce stress and promote a better social life/making friends.social life/making friends.

The indicators of health and well-The indicators of health and well-beingbeing

Text book p.85Text book p.85