Waists across the Northern area are set to be measured over coming months as part of the Public Health Agency’s (PHA) Choose to Live Better campaign.

Thirteen leisure centres in the Northern area have been provided with weighing scales, stadiometers (for height measurement) and tape measures, funded by the PHA. Fitness instructors at council leisure centres have been trained by dietetic support workers to calculate body mass index (BMI) and waist measurements

Major events can attract thousands of visitors from all over the world. When many people are gathered together for such events, there can be an increased risk to public health, so the Public Health Agency (PHA) plays a key role in helping to reduce this risk. For advice and information on how to reduce the risk to public health during major events click here.

Improving the health and wellbeing of the elderly is the theme of the fourth Director of Public Health Annual Report, launched on 12 June 2013. Northern Ireland’s elderly population is growing and older people are living longer than ever before, which emphasises the importance of providing health and social care that allows them to live a productive life.

This report highlights the many areas of public health work aimed at giving elderly people in Northern Ireland the best opportunity to live active and healthy lives in a safe and secure environment. An in-depth overview also provides statistics on many aspects of life as an elderly person here – life expectancy, mortality, mental wellbeing, lifestyle, social determinants of health etc. Further, more detailed, data is included in an accompanying report available as a separate document.  

The core tables for 2011, also available to download, include information such as estimated home population figures and projections, birth rates, fertility rates, death rates, information on mortality, life expectancy, immunisation rates and screening uptake rates.

During Cervical Cancer Awareness Week  (9–15 June) the Public Health Agency (PHA) is reminding women to take up invites to have a regular screening test for cervical cancer – it could literally save your life.

With an average of 105 women diagnosed with cervical cancer and 24 women dying from the disease each year in Northern Ireland, it is important for individuals to accept their invitation for a screening test.

Over the past 100 years, life expectancy for men and women in Northern Ireland has risen by over 30 years and this massive achievement will be celebrated today at the Public Health Agency’s (PHA) Annual Scientific Conference.

Fifteen per cent of our population is now aged over 65 and this year’s conference will focus on older people, and how public health innovations, research and practice meet their needs.