Encouraging healthier lifestyles--3. Healthy living for all the family!

Abstract

The link between good nutrition, exercise and health is well established, but many people in the U.K. still do not follow the nationally recommended guidelines for either nutrition or exercise. The problem affects children and young people as well as adults and puts them at risk of several chronic diseases in later life such as diabetes, heart disease and obesity. This article looks at some practical ways of tackling poor nutrition and lack of exercise in families, since the family has a strong and lasting influence on children's health behaviours and parents are powerful role models for their children.