Latest news with #healthyLifestyle
BBC News
5 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Surrey teens find healthy living too expensive, study finds
Teenagers in Surrey face barriers to living a healthy lifestyle including run down facilities and the cost of nutritious foods, according to a of Surrey researchers found the cost of sports clubs, equipment, healthy food and transport are among the issues for young people, even in affluent areas of the study also found that teenage girls continue to see sexism, including being ridiculed for their appearance and labelled negatively for playing sports traditionally seen as "for boys", as another roadblock to Helen Lambert, senior lecturer in public health nutrition, said the research "highlights systemic issues beyond individual choices". The study, called understanding barriers to health behaviours in 13–17-year-olds: A whole systems approach in the context of obesity, was funded by Surrey County Council and published in journal featured 27 participants aged between 12 and 16 and interviewed a further 35 people working in either education or youth found that young people often saw healthy food options in schools as too expensive, instead opting for cheaper, less nutritious people said school meals "aren't very healthy" and "really overpriced" compared to options such as supermarket meal less affluent areas of Surrey, sports facilities were also often found to be "run-down or non-existent", limiting opportunities for working with young people said there was a lack of training to help young people with weight management or specialist help with Jane Ogden, Professor of Health Psychology at the University of Surrey, said: "We can't simply tell teenagers to 'eat better and exercise more' - there are significant, structural issues that need to be addressed at both a community and societal level."By spotlighting these barriers, we can start creating a fairer and more supportive environment that will help young people in Surrey access healthier choices and have an opportunity to thrive."
Forbes
30-05-2025
- General
- Forbes
Just In Time For Summer: Why You Should Consider Mindful Eating
Young african american woman drinking green juice with reusable bamboo straw in loft apartment. Home ... More concept. Healthy lifestyle concept. Copy space In an ideal world, there would be time to sit down and savor the rich flavors, scents, and the appearance of food. In reality, most people often eat while working, driving, or otherwise distracted. But experts say that mindful eating — the practice of being present, focused, and intentional while eating — can help people better tune into their body's needs and bring more enjoyment to their meals. Mindful eating encourages a person to trust their decisions in how they eat rather than following an overly strict, rigid set of dieting rules, says Barbara Shabazz, PsyD, a licensed psychologist in private practice in Virginia Beach, Virginia. To be fair, much like people set aside time to meditate, mindful eating requires some time and effort. Here are six suggestions for eating with greater intention. 1. Start Slowly Mindful eating is an extension of mindfulness meditation — the act of intentionally doing one thing at a time with awareness, without judgment. Eating mindfully can bring about a more open way of thinking about food. Experts suggest beginning with one meal or snack and adding additional meals over time, and as the practice becomes easier. For example, if eating an apple or popcorn, try to be intentional about eating the apple or popcorn while doing nothing else except engaging the senses. Observe the smells, textures, taste, sounds, and visuals. Engaging the senses helps to stay in the moment and remain present. If craving ice cream, resist the urge to judge yourself before, during, or after eating it, Shabazz says. Instead, focus on savoring each bite and fully experiencing the flavors and textures. Accept the choice as just one food option you chose for that day. Tomorrow, you may eat fruit rather than ice cream; either option is okay. 2. Practice Makes It Easier Everyone is so busy in their day-to-day lives that most people often squeeze in eating whenever and wherever they can, and that often means pairing it with other activities or tasks. Becoming a mindful eater will requires making time for your food and food choices. Mindful eating is about tuning into all senses while eating. In a world where multitasking is the norm, mindful eating challenges a person to slow down and focus on their meal. Mindful eating can feel a little different at first, but the more a person can practice being present and intentional while eating, the easier it will become to tune out distractions and resist the urge to have a working lunch or hop on social media while eating dinner. When distracted or feeling an to reach for the phone, take a deep breath and refocus. 3. Let Go of Food Guilt A lot of people are taught to feel guilty when eating certain foods or specific amounts of food. Experts stress the importance of releasing preconceived notions that may have been formed about eating that leads to guilt and shame. Mindful eating is about learning how to make healthy food choices and to improve a person's relationship with food by being fully present when eating. Over time, this may also lead to gratitude for the experience itself, as well as a lessening of judgments you may have about yourself, your body, or your eating habits. Mindful eating is not centered on weight loss, nor is weight loss the goal of this approach. In some instances, people may gain weight once they begin practicing mindful eating if they were not eating enough calories and mindful eating allows them to better tap into their body's hunger and thirst cues. Some people won't see weight gain or loss. However, in other cases, the practice of mindful eating may lead to weight loss. Research also shows that some people who lost weight by using a mindful eating approach did not gain it back. There are multiple reasons for that. One is that being more attuned to the body's needs can cut down on emotional eating. Other research shows that a more mindful way of approaching food can help with hunger awareness and reduce external eating, which is eating in response to the sight or smell of certain foods rather than eating because we're hungry. Sometimes we get seconds or do not eat because of conditioned behaviors, but with mindful eating, a person can make a more intentional decision either way. If you have deciding to lose weight for health reasons, consider combining mindful eating with nutrition counseling, Shabazz says. 'Mindful eating by itself may be effective for weight loss, but if you're not as knowledgeable about healthy nutrition, mindful eating alone will most likely not lead to weight loss.' 4. Be Kind to Yourself Mindful eating may come to some quickly or may be challenging. A person may also find practicing on certain days or with certain meals more difficult than others. Good and bad days are to be expected, and both are entirely normal, says Shabazz. The most important thing a person can do is to be kind and patient with themself and as present as possible while eating. Remind yourself that you're building a positive relationship with eating that you can even pass down to your children. 5. Plan Ahead Because mindful eating requires time, experts suggest building in a window where to eat without distraction, at least for some meals. If mornings while your family is getting ready for work and school are too hectic, maybe you can set aside one lunch break over the course of the week where you can sit by yourself on a park bench and just be. 6. Try Not to Get Too Hungry It's hard to eat mindfully when you're famished. When you're well past hunger, you may rush through your meal without enjoying it, make food choices you wouldn't otherwise make, or eat more than feels comfortable. Not only can hunger lead to feelings of deprivation, but it can also cause your blood sugar to drop and raise the cortisol in your body. Mindful eating can be a wonderful way to help you be more in tune with your body, the tastes and scents of the food in front of you, and your feelings of hunger and fullness. It can also help reduce a rigid or too-harsh way of thinking about food. Taking a more intuitive approach to eating may even help support healthy digestion. One study found that connecting the mind and the body when eating can reduce stress and digestive issues. Although the practice of mindful eating does take intention, it can be a part of your daily life, even with a full you are finding that your relationship with food makes you feel guilt or shame, you may also want to speak with a mental health provider or registered dietitian with expertise in building a healthy relationship with food.
CBC
27-05-2025
- Health
- CBC
Active Commute Challenge kicking off June 1st
The people behind the Active Commute Challenge gathered Tuesday to kick off the month-long event, which starts June 1. The friendly competition challenges people to use sustainable transportation methods to commute to work for the month of June. This includes walking, cycling, carpooling and public transit. At a podium set up outside outside Confederation College in front of a very full bike rack, Thunder Bay District Health Unit public health nurse Leena Pehkonen said the challenge helps people develop healthy exercise habits and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. "We have such an improved cycling and biking infrastructure here in Thunder Bay, so it gives people a chance to kind of explore that, check out some routes and try something new," said Pehkonen, who is coordinator of the Active Commute Challenge. Thunder Bay's largest source of greenhouse gas emissions was transportation, Pehkonen said. The goal of the challenge is to get cars off the road by replacing car trips with greener modes of transportation. "Last year we replaced 3,000 car trips just during the month of June and 25,000 kilometres of people actively commuting," Pehkonen said. Physical and mental health benefits On top of reducing carbon footprint, the challenge can also help people kick-start a healthier lifestyle, said Janet DeMille, medical officer of health at the Thunder Bay District Health Unit. The recommended amount of physical activity for adults is 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity per week, she said. "You can easily meet that with an active commute if you're walking or if you're biking. So that act improves people's physical health. It makes them stronger, it makes them more energetic, makes them healthier overall and, helps lower the risk of those chronic diseases," said DeMille. How easy is it to commute across Thunder Bay by bike? 2 years ago Duration 4:31 People hoping to bike to work in response to Thunder Bay's Active Commute Challenge might face a few extra obstacles. CBC News went for a ride across the city with cycling advocate Ken Shields. Here's what we saw along the way. Spending time outside during an active commute also has mental health benefits, she said. Being in nature can positively impact people struggling with stress, anxiety, or depression, DeMille said. Commuting by foot, bike or carpool can also help increase social interaction, she said. "You feel connected to other people in a way that you don't when we're all sort of separately in cars," said DeMille. Confederation College Vice President Peter Myllymaa said that he's personally experienced the benefits of exercise DeMille described. "I've been skiing, I started when I was two years old. So I've been at it for 57 years now, riding my bike, running. It's just incredible benefits from that," said Myllymaa. While the challenge may appeal to seasoned active commuters, Myllymaa said people looking to try walking, cycling or other active ways of getting to work can make use of the many multi-use trails in the city and on the college campus. "You can get from the north end of town to the south end of town without competing with traffic. And that's really good to have," he said. The Active Commute Challenge kicks off June 1 and runs for the entire month of June.
South China Morning Post
21-05-2025
- Health
- South China Morning Post
Rely on science, not fads, for weight loss
The global surge in the number of people who are overweight or obese has rightly focused attention on the need to adopt a healthy lifestyle. But at a time when we are increasingly bombarded with advice on what to eat and drink, many turn to fad diets in a bid to lose weight or gain other claimed health benefits. A study conducted by the Hong Kong Nutrition Association in recent months suggests a surprisingly high proportion – about 40 per cent – of Hong Kong people have tried such diets. More than half of those that did opted for intermittent fasting, which involves skipping meals, and 43 per cent adopted a low-carbohydrate diet. Their motivations were primarily a desire to lose weight or to be healthier. But the association has warned, with good reason, that such diets are often not backed by sufficient scientific evidence and can be counterproductive, leading to other health problems. It is worrying that more than half of the respondents had used unverified information on social media. More than 40 per cent sought advice from friends or relatives.
