Physical Wellbeing
Healthy Eating
Some links on this page have been colour coded to make it easier to find the information you need:
LOCAL SUPPORT - SELF REFERRAL
Age Over 16
From Be Healthy Bucks
If you would like to eat more healthily or lose weight, Be Health Bucks can support you.
- Be a healthier weight Home – Be Healthy Bucks
- Get inspired (includes some articles on healthy eating) All Insights – Be Healthy Bucks
Age 7 to 16
From Be Healthy Bucks
Be Health Bucks can support healthier diets.
- Be a healthier weight Home – Be Healthy Bucks
- Get inspired (includes some articles on healthy eating for families) All Insights – Be Healthy Bucks
SUPPORT UP TO THE AGE OF 5
From the Health Visiting Team (Buckinghamshire NHS Healthcare Trust)
Covering your child’s early development up to the age of 5
Health visiting Health visiting – Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust – CYP Website
- Includes who we are, what to expect, when we do routine visits and how to contact us for advice on all aspects of baby and child management and behaviour (covering children up to the age of 5)”.
- Including for 1-2 years: We can offer help and advice with managing behaviour including: fussy eating. Pre-school children: Our community nursery nurses can help with issues including: fussy eating
SCHOOL AGE SUPPORT
From the School Nursing Team (Buckinghamshire NHS Healthcare Trust)
Covering school age children
“In Year 6, we’ll measure and weigh your child again as part of the National Childhood Measurement Programme (NCMP).” The NCMP is explained by NHS choices The National Child Measurement Programme – NHS
If your child missed their height and weight check you can contact the school nurse.
School nursing School nursing – Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust – CYP Website
- Includes how to contact us for advice on child health and wellbeing (covering school age children).
- Schools we cover Schools we cover – Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust – CYP Website
ESTIMATING YOUR RISK OF DIABETES WITHOUT A BLOOD TEST – KNOW YOUR RISK TOOL
From the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme – delivered by Living Well Taking Control
Find out your risk score by completing the “Know your Risk tool” ARE YOU AT RISK? | diabetes-prevention
If you score is 16 or higher, you may be at risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Contact your GP practice about having a blood test and to check your eligibility to access the Healthier You NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme.
SELF-REFERRING TO THE NHS DIABETES PREVENTION PROGRAMME if you are at higher risk of diabetes
“If your GP has sent you a letter or text which confirms that you are at risk of Type 2 diabetes, you are able to register for the Healthier You: NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme.
Fill in the form with your blood test reading SELF-REFERRAL FORM | diabetes-prevention
FREE NHS DIABETES PREVENTION PROGRAMME COURSE EXPLAINED
From the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme – delivered by Living Well Taking Control
Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West: Includes a patient leaflet which you can download BUCKS, OXFORD & BERKSHIRE WEST | diabetes-prevention
Lower your risk of diabetes even if you do not qualify for the NHS diabetes prevention programme
For support to lower your risk of diabetes even if you do not qualify for the NHS diabetes prevention programme see under
Public Health Buckinghamshire
From Buckinghamshire Council
- Healthy eating Healthy eating
- Grow it cook it eat it Grow It Cook It Eat It
- Love your heart Bucks Love Your Heart Bucks | Buckinghamshire Council
- What’s happening in Buckinghamshire Whats happening
What is a healthy diet?
From the British Nutrition Foundation
“public-facing charity which exists to give people, educators and organisations access to reliable information on nutrition.”
- Healthy sustainable diets Healthy sustainable diets – British Nutrition Foundation
- Life stages Life stages – British Nutrition Foundation
- Health conditions Health conditions – British Nutrition Foundation
- Putting it into practice Putting it into practice – British Nutrition Foundation
From the NHS
The eat well guide from the NHS
From Patient info
From the British Dietetic Association (BDA)
Combining an affordable healthy diet with an environmentally sustainable diet:
Sustainable Diets Sustainable Diets | British Dietetic Association (BDA)
From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
This well respected American Government website Nutrition | CDC includes
- Benefits of Healthy Eating Benefits of Healthy Eating | Nutrition | DNPAO | CDC
- A link to “Dietary Guidelines for Americans” Home | Dietary Guidelines for Americans
The ” Dietary Guidelines for Americans” takes the latest scientific evidence and turns this into guidance, though it is intended for professionals it is packed with useful information for all ages.
Lifestyle changes
Importantly you can also consider how one can make any changes part of a new lifestyle which is much more likely to make the changes permanent. More information can be found here: Lifestyle changes.
FREQUENTY ASKED QUESTIONS - CALCULATING YOUR HEART AGE AND DIABETES RISK
YOUR HEART AGE
Your heart age gives you an idea of how healthy your heart is.
An NHS Health Check can give you a more accurate number for your heart age by including a cholesterol blood test result and blood pressure result. However, the calculator below will give you some idea of your heart age if you are not eligible for an NHS health check or decide not to have one.
From the NHS
Calculate your heart age Calculate your heart age – NHS
BLOOD PRESSURE
If you take your blood pressure at home or with your local pharmacy you can also check what your blood pressure reading means and get information what to do next
From the NHS
Check your blood pressure reading Check your blood pressure reading – NHS
Improving your heart age
Apart from the information on healthy eating on this page (including on cholesterol) there is more information on improving your heart age (including self-referral information to local support) under:
CHOLESTEROL AND DIET
Whether you have a high, medium or low cardiovascular risk we should all consider the benefits of having a healthy cholesterol level. There is clear evidence what dietary changes can help lower our cholesterol.
From the NHS
- What is high cholesterol? High cholesterol – NHS
- How to eat less saturated fat How to eat less saturated fat – NHS
From the British Heart Foundation
- High Cholesterol -Causes, symptoms and treatments High Cholesterol – Causes, Symptoms & Treatments | BHF
- How do I lower my cholesterol? your 5 top questions answered How do I lower my cholesterol? we answer 5 of your most common questions – BHF
From the British Dietetic Association (BDA)
Cholesterol food fact sheet Cholesterol
From Patient info
- High Cholesterol High Cholesterol | How to lower cholesterol levels | Patient
- Mediterranean Diet Health Benefits of a Mediterranean Diet | Heart Disease | Patient
Cholesterol Help Line, webinars and More
From Heart UK
“is the UK’s only cholesterol charity, providing support, information and influencing services for families and health professionals.” HEART UK – The Cholesterol Charity
Detailed website which is dedicated to support with lowering your cholesterol, includes
- A Cholesterol helpline HEART UK’s free Cholesterol Helpline
- Explanation of cholesterol test results What Are My Cholesterol Test Results? What Is A Healthy Cholesterol Level? HEART UK
- Webinars covid19-webinars
When is medication (a statin) offered to lower cholesterol?
From the NHS
Medicines for high cholesterol High cholesterol – Medicines for high cholesterol – NHS
Cardiovascular risk calculators such as QRISK®3 help determine what your risk is and this determines whether you should be offered a Statin (cholesterol lowering drug):
From Patient info
Cardiovascular Health Risk Assessment (including information and a link to QRISK®3 risk assessment.) Cardiovascular Health Risk Assessment | Patient
From NICE
Lipid modification – CVD prevention Lipid modification – CVD prevention | Health topics A to Z | CKS | NICE
Remember as NICE (National Institute of Clinical Excellence) suggest “Interpretation of risk scores as well as the need for further management of risk factors in those who fall below the CVD risk threshold, should always reflect informed clinical judgement.” Cardiovascular disease risk assessment and prevention | Treatment summary | BNF content published by NICE
Different interventions (dietary changes, smoking cessation, exercise and cholesterol lowering drugs if appropriate) can all lower your cardiovascular risk:
You can get an approximate idea of the impact of different interventions using risk calculators
From James McCormack
The Absolute CVD Risk/Benefit Calculator Risk Calculator shows how individually different interventions can all have a benefit
FROM ClinRisk
Welcome to QIntervention®-2017 QIntervention
Patient decision aids can help you understand the option of taking Statins (cholesterol lowering drugs) when it is offered by your GP.
From Healthwise
Statins: Should I Take Them to Prevent a Heart Attack or Stroke? Statins: Should I Take Them to Prevent a Heart Attack or Stroke?
Further information on treatment
From Heart UK
A charity dedicated to providing information on cholesterol
Further information on statin medication including a full list of side effects can be found in the Prescriptions and Medicines Management.
To estimate your risk of diabetes and lower your risk of diabetes (even if you do not qualify for the NHS diabetes prevention programme) see under
FREQUENTY ASKED QUESTIONS - GENERAL
MEDICAL CONDITIONS AND DIET
From the British Dietetic Association (BDA)
Includes information on numerous condition high blood pressure (hypertension)
Medical conditions food facts Medical conditions food facts
From the British Nutrition Foundation
“public-facing charity which exists to give people, educators and organisations access to reliable information on nutrition.”
- Health conditions Health conditions – British Nutrition Foundation
Diabetes
From Diabetes UK
Eating with diabetes Eating with diabetes | Guide to diabetes | Diabetes UK
VITAMIN D
From the NHS
Vitamin D Vitamins and minerals – Vitamin D – NHS
From the British Dietetic Association (BDA)
Vitamin D food fact sheet Vitamin D
Advice for adults and children over 4 years old
As the NHS website suggests as it can be difficult
“for people to get enough vitamin D from food alone, everyone (including pregnant and breastfeeding women) should consider taking a daily supplement containing 10 micrograms of vitamin D during the autumn and winter.” Vitamins and minerals – Vitamin D – NHS
You can buy Vitamin D from your local pharmacist without a prescription.
From NICE
- Vitamin D deficiency in adults Vitamin D deficiency in adults | Health topics A to Z | CKS | NICE
- Vitamin D deficiency in children Vitamin D deficiency in children | Health topics A to Z | CKS | NICE
FOLIC ACID
From the NHS
Folate deficiency anaemia Vitamin B12 or folate deficiency anaemia – NHS
From the British Dietetic Association (BDA)
Folic acid food fact sheet Folic Acid Food Fact Sheet
NUTRIENTS
From the British Dietetic Association (BDA)
Nutrient food facts: consider various nutrients and their importance in health Nutrients food facts | British Dietetic Association (BDA)
From the NHS
Vitamins and minerals Vitamins and minerals – NHS
There maybe mental health benefits from healthy eating:
From MoodFood
“Healthy eating can also help improve our mental health by reducing feelings of depression. Check out the ‘Eating for Mental Health’ booklet to see the best ways you can make healthy food choices to protect your mental health.”
- For Public Public | Mood Food
- For Health Professionals – gives the level of evidence for any recommendation Health Professionals | Mood Food
FREQUENTY ASKED QUESTIONS - PATIENT GROUPS
PREGNANCY AND DIET
From the British Dietetic Association (BDA)
Babies and pregnancy food facts Babies and pregnancy food facts
From Patient info
Diet and Lifestyle during Pregnancy Healthy Pregnancy Diet and Lifestyle | Pregnancy Advice | Patient
IDEAS FOR FAMILIES
From Change4Life
- Food facts: Find out more about what’s really in the food your family eats. Food facts – Healthier Families – NHS
- Your first step to cooking healthier meals Healthy Recipes | Change4Life
From the NHS
Children’s weight Children’s-weight – NHS
Over 60
From Age UK
Some simple advice for over 60 on Healthy eating Healthy eating advice for the elderly | Age UK
Videos and podcasts
On the videos and podcasts page there are links to some relevant videos and podcasts covering the topic of healthy eating (physical wellbeing).
- Videos And Podcasts – see section “wellbeing and disease prevention”.
