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Top tips on getting fit and losing excess weight in 2020

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is taking the opportunity during Obesity Awareness Week to offer top tips on healthier eating and becoming more active.

The Health Survey (NI) 2017/18 shows 64% of adults were either overweight (37%) or obese (27%).

Caroline Bloomfield, Health and Social Wellbeing Improvement Senior Manager at the PHA, said: “At this time of the year, following Christmas, many people will be looking at how they can become healthier and fitter, how they can lose a bit of weight and get more active.

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Safer sleeping advice for parents at Christmas

Ahead of the Christmas holidays, the Public Health Agency (PHA) is reminding parents and guardians of young babies of the importance of following safer sleep advice to reduce the risk of sudden infant death.

At this time of year, with festivities and celebrations, the normal routines and sleeping arrangements for young babies may be changed.

Button cell battery danger warning ahead of Christmas

The Public Health Agency (PHA) has issued a pre-Christmas warning to parents and guardians about the dangers of lithium button cell batteries, which are used to power many children’s toys but are highly dangerous if accidentally swallowed.

The festive period can typically see a rise in the number of these small, button-shaped batteries introduced to the home as they are contained in many toys, musical Christmas cards, remote controls and a host of other electronic items.

Make it your New Year’s Resolution to quit smoking

As the New Year approaches, the Public Health Agency (PHA) is encouraging people to make a resolution worth keeping – quitting smoking.

The PHA is currently running a mass media campaign to encourage people to stop smoking and highlight the free quit services that are available across Northern Ireland.

Colette Rogers, Strategic Lead for Tobacco Control with the PHA, said: “New Year is a time when many people decide to quit smoking, and while some might be able to do it with very little support, others find that planning ahead and making use of the free support services that are available can really help them make the decision permanent.”

The switchboard number for the PHA’s Headquarters at Linenhall Street, Belfast has changed to 0300 555 0114. Click here for more information.

The Public Health Agency (PHA) was established in April 2009 as part of the reforms to Health and Social Care (HSC) in Northern Ireland. We are the major regional organisation for health protection and health and social wellbeing improvement. Our role also commits us to addressing the causes and associated inequalities of preventable ill-health and lack of wellbeing. We are a multi-disciplinary, multi-professional body with a strong regional and local presence.

Directorates

In fulfilling our mandate to protect public health, improve public health and social wellbeing, and reduce inequalities in health and social wellbeing, the PHA works within an operational framework of three areas: Public Health, Nursing and Allied Health Professionals, and Operations. Our corporate and business plans reflect these arrangements and our purpose as an organisation.

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