Healthy living

Being healthy is a big part of being positive. A healthy lifestyle means that you live a life that is well-balanced, both physically and mentally. If your lifestyle includes extremes of things like eating, drinking, exercise, sleeping, harmful activities and so on, you are more likely to become ill, have trouble concentrating at work or school, or be unhappy or depressed.

Your lifestyle has a big effect on how you feel and what you get out of life, now and in the future. This area of the website will provide you with tips and information for living an overall healthy life.

At 16 years old, you can make your own choices about your medical care. You can choose which doctor, dentist or optician you want to see.

NHS Choices: Food and diet - Do dairy foods really make you fat? Can fast food still be healthy? Can what you eat help your skin? Find out the answers to these questions and how you can look and feel your best by keeping fit.

Eating Disorders - getting help by phone or e-mail:

beat

What is an eating disorder?

Help and support

beat Youthline (for young people up to and including 18 years of age) 0808 801 0711, fyp@beateatingdisorders.org.uk

beat Helpline (for over 18s) 0808 801 0677, help@beateatingdisorders.org.uk

You can find a wide range of health information on topics such as smoking, weight loss, physical activity and advice on alcohol via the following accredited websites. 

• Smoking: NHS smokefree or call them on 0300 123 1044, Monday to Friday 9am to 8pm and Saturday and Sunday 11am to 4pm
  
  The website offers telephone help line, web chat, email, and app options.
  
  
• Weight loss: NHS weight loss plan
  Includes a 12-week self-led online, weight-loss programme
  
  
• Alcohol: NHS One You - Drink less
  Helpful tips on how you can improve your health by making changes to your drinking
  
  Southampton Drug and Alcohol Recovery Service
  Free and confidential advice for people over the age of 25
  
  No Limits
  Free and confidential advice for people aged 24 and under
  
  
• Physical activity:
  NHS get active your way
  
  NHS One You - Move more
  Includes the Active 10 app to get you moving
  
  
• NHS Health Checks: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/nhs-health-check/
  This is a mid-life MOT for 40-74 year olds, once every five years.  Your GP practice can review your cholesterol, blood pressure and lifestyle to see if you might be at greater risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes or dementia in the future.
  
  
• One You: https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/
  The website is aimed at adults 40+ but can be used by others to get information and do self-checks that help you move more, eat more healthily and assess your mental health. The One You website includes links to many of the sites above, as well as apps and self-assessments.

Advice and information can also be accessed via the Southampton Healthy Living website until 31 March 2019.