10 Mar 2016

Public Health England launch One You campaign to tackle middle-age inactivity

Public Health England launch One You campaign to tackle middle-age inactivity news article image

This week, Public Health England launched the ‘One You’ campaign designed and aimed at helping adults across the country avoid future diseases caused by modern day life and inactivity.

Each year preventable deaths, credited to poor diets and lifestyles, are attributable for around 40% of all deaths in England and cost the NHS more than £11 billion a year.

Latest figures show that life expectancy at older ages is at record levels, yet many are spending their retirement living in ill health. Currently 15 million Britons are living with a long-term health condition, yet studies show a healthy lifestyle in middle age can double your chances of being in good health when you are 70.

The ‘One You’ campaign seeks to encourage adults, particularly those in middle age, to take control of their health to enjoy significant benefits now, and in later life.

It will encourage adults to start by taking a new online health quiz called ‘How Are You’. This innovative quiz provides personalised recommendations based on your results and directs people to tools and advice to help them take action where it’s most needed. Over half (56%) of 40 to 60 year olds taking the ‘How Are You’ quiz said they were likely to change their lifestyle to improve their health because of the feedback it gave them.

Professor Sir Muir Gray, clinical adviser for the ‘One You’ campaign said:

"Many diseases that impact people’s health and shorten their active lives can be prevented. Currently 42% of adults in midlife are living with at least one long-term health condition which increases their risk of early death and disability.

‘One You’ is designed to help every individual identify not only their risks but also the pressures they face in their life and the stress that results, and then support them with personalised tools and advice."

Professor Dame Sally Davies, Chief Medical Officer said:

"It is important people of all ages feel able to prioritise their health so they can lead long and healthy lives.

We all have the power to shape our future health by making simple and small changes now. ‘One You’ campaign acknowledges that this can be difficult and is there to help make these changes easier."

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