Mansfield is fattest district

Statistics released by the Active People Survey show that 70.3 per cent of people living in the Mansfield district are overweight or obese. This figure is higher than the county wide average of 67.3 per cent, and higher still than the national average of 64.6 per cent.

The district of Bassetlaw came close second at 70.1 per cent overweight, Ashfield 69 per cent and Newark and Sherwood 67.4 per cent.

From 2012–14 a total of 20,931 East Midlands residents died from smoking-related causes, equivalent to an average of just under 7,000 a year.

In response to this, a ground-breaking new campaign has been launched to help adults avoid future diseases caused by modern day life.

The ‘One You’ campaign addresses everyday behaviours such as eating too much unhealthy food, drinking more than is recommended, continuing to smoke and not being active enough , which are responsible for around 40 per cent of all deaths in England, and cost the NHS more than £11 billion a year.

It aims to encourage adults, particularly those in middle age, to take control of their health to enjoy significant benefits now, and in later life.

Latest figures show that life expectancy at older ages is at record levels, yet many are spending their retirement living in ill health. Currently fifteen million Britons are living with a long-term health condition, yet studies show living healthily in middle age can double your chances of being healthy when you are 70.

Councillor Joyce Bosnjak, chairman of Nottinghamshire County Council’s Health and Wellbeing Board said: “It is really important for people to take care of their health to remain well. This new One You campaign shows the importance of adopting a healthy lifestyle in your middle years in order to significantly increase your chances of being healthy when you are older.

“What you do today can really affect your chances of having a much healthier older age, it’s never too late to get your health back on track.”

To see how your health measures up, take part in the online quiz www.nhs.uk/oneyou/how-are-you