The latest Public Health England campaign, Better Health, was launched on Monday 27^th July to seize the opportunity for a national reset moment and to focus on kickstarting our health – to get active and eat better.

Active Dorset are supporting this campaign alongside local partners Public Health Dorset, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole and Dorset Councils' shared public health service, and LiveWell Dorset. The partners involved will use a joined-up approach to promote the campaign across the whole of Dorset.

COVID-19 has affected the whole country; for almost everyone, life has had to fundamentally change. But it has also prompted many people to reflect and think more seriously about their health. What's more, people have been surprised by how able they have been to change their behaviour, with lockdown showing many that they are able to make and sustain changes to their lives.

Nearly two thirds (63%) of adults in the UK are overweight or living with obesity. Gaining weight is often a gradual process that takes place over a number of years and modern life doesn't always make it easy. But this extra weight causes pressure to build up around vital organs, making it harder for the body to fight against diseases like cancer, heart disease and now COVID-19. By reducing your weight within a healthy range, you can help cut your risk of being critically ill with COVID-19.

The Better Health campaign will support individuals on their weight loss journey, but, later down the line, will also provide advice and support for quitting smoking, drinking less and looking after your mental health.

Active Dorset's Chief Executive Martin Kimberley commented; "The Covid-19 situation has led to many of us re-evaluating our health and recognising that we can make some positive changes to live a healthier lifestyle, by both getting active and adjusting our diets. Small changes to our habits can lead to big health improvements and reduce the burden on our NHS, the time is now to make a lasting difference to our health and wellbeing."

There are a variety of tools available to help people manage their weight loss – from checking their BMI, to getting access to free support tools including the NHS 12-week weight loss plan. The NHS 12-week weight loss plan, available both online and via a new app, promotes evidence based safe and sustainable weight loss. It helps users to make healthier choices, by providing the most up to date evidence based healthy eating and physical activity advice in a magazine format that enables them to keep track of their calorie intake, portions of fruit and veg, physical activity level and teaches skills to prevent weight gain.

Individuals looking to kickstart their journey are welcomed to register with LiveWell Dorset, who offer free, personalised advice and guidance to help Dorset residents to develop a healthier lifestyle. For more information, please visit www.livewelldorset.co.uk