NHS Sutton Clinical Commissioning Group is supporting National Obesity Awareness Week this year which is taking place between 12 and 18 January 2015.
People and families in Sutton are being invited to join others across the UK to make a national New Year's resolution to improve the nation's health and take small steps to live a healthier lifestyle.
Dr Chris Elliott, local GP and Chief Clinical Officer of Sutton CCG, said obesity was estimated to affect around one in every four adults and around one in every five children aged 10 to 11 in the UK(*).
"Obesity can lead to a number of serious and potentially life-threating conditions including type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke and cancer," he said.
"However, small lifestyle changes such as being more physically active, following a healthy, balanced diet and cutting down on sugary snacks can make all the difference.
"Making these small changes can have a huge impact on your health and wellbeing and National Obesity Awareness Week is a great opportunity to look at how we can live healthier lifestyles."
In Sutton, 62.5% of adults were classified as overweight or obese in 2012, compared to a London average of 57.3% of adults and an England average of 63.8%(**).
Anyone who is concerned about their weight should speak to their GP in the first instance for advice about losing weight safely. Your local GP can advise you on the type of diet you should be following and how much exercise you should do
The best way to treat obesity is to eat a healthy, reduced-calorie diet and to exercise regularly. Being more physically active could involve taking up activities such as fast walking, jogging, swimming or tennis for two and a half to five hours a week.
It is important to avoid situations where you know you could be tempted to overeat while setting realistic goals and involving your friends and family with your attempts to lose weight can also help.
For more details on National Obesity Awareness Week 2015, which is organised by the National Obesity Forum, visit www.noaw.org.uk
For details on how your GP can help you lose weight visit www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Obesity/Pages/Treatment.aspx
For ideas on how to fit more exercise into your life visit www.nhs.uk/LiveWell/Fitness/Pages/Fitnesshome.aspx
For top tips on how to eat healthily visit www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Goodfood/Pages/eight-tips-healthy-eating.aspx