Halfway there!

Jan 25 2008 by Sue Scott, Evening Gazette

YOUR tremendous response to our Get A Better Life campaign has already seen hundreds of Teessiders pledging to change their habits.

After only a few days, 500 of you had already completed our simple online registration to take part in the biggest, detailed survey of a community’s diet and fitness ever undertaken in the UK.

Reducing fat is top of your list of concerns, with 58% so far promising to cut down, while 42% want to boost their fruit and veg intake. Almost a 10th of you are cutting down on takeaways!

Among the fitness pledges, 44% are planning to go for a brisk walk in their lunch hour while 40% are getting together with family and friends to take up a sport at the weekend.

“To have 500 people signing up in the first four days is extremely encouraging and shows that people living in the Tees Valley have a real interest in becoming healthier,” said Professor Carolyn Summerbell, head of Teesside University’s Centre for Food, Physical Activity and Obesity, which is carrying out the study for the Food Standards Agency, with support from Middlesbrough Primary Care Trust.

Now why don’t you join in? Signing up is easy. Simply log on to www.getabetterlifecampaign.co.uk and follow the instructions to take part in our 12-month pledge.

You’ll be given plenty of support and encouragement with tips every week on our own gazettelive.co.uk website.

There’s even an online blog for extra moral support. But remember, only the first 1,000 pledge takers will qualify for our great £15 worth of free health and fitness goodies.