Improving your health starts with one small step

Improving your health starts with one small step

Physically active people enjoy better health overall, with lower risk of obesity, depression, diabetes, heart disease, some cancers and falls.

The key to being active is to do something you enjoy - it is never too late to start, and anything is better than nothing. If you are beginning your exercise journey start slowly and safely (check with your doctor first if you have pre-existing conditions and ask about discounted 12 week exercise referral schemes at your local leisure centre).

Further ideas to get you moving

Read some general tips on building exercise into your daily life - it's not all about pumping weights.

New mums or mums-to-be may want to find out how to improve their health and boost their mood with help from This Mum Moves.

Find links to a range of environmentally-friendly activities you could try, including everyday ideas to help get you volunteering or cycling and walking more in Surrey or check out the activity finder

Active Surrey activity finder

Got a disability or long term health condition?

Some info for Surrey

Elderly and / or at risk of falling?

Gentle balance exercises

Worried about the weight of your child under 12?

Get help for free

Staying active over 60

Ideas for moving more

Like to lose a bit of weight?

Carrying excess weight puts more pressure on your body and can stop you enjoying activities and time with your family. It comes with major costs to the NHS too; it’s reckoned obesity was a factor in over 700,0001 hospital admissions in 2017/18, costing the NHS billions of pounds.

Being overweight is the second largest preventable cause of cancer after smoking, having been directly linked to an increased risk of 13 different cancers2. It is also linked to other health conditions, including an increased risk of stroke, heart disease, diabetes,  high blood pressure, joint pain and complications from COVID-19.  

If you’d like to do something about your weight it's never too late to start and even a 5% drop will make a real difference.  Check out the NHS Better Health programme which includes a free app to help you get started on a regime that suits you.