1. Based on 35 years of research in Caerphilly by Cardiff University
Healthy Living
Based on 35 years of research in Caerphilly
by Cardiff University

2. Each of us is responsible for the protection of our own health
Regular Physical Exercise
A Low Body Weight
A Healthy Diet
Not Smoking
A Low Alcohol Consumption
If you follow all five of these, or perhaps even four, you will love a healthy lifestyle with all its benefits. Following five of the behaviours is the ideal and any less than four is an unhealthy lifestyle.

3. Heart disease and stroke
People who follow a healthy lifestyle have less than half the number of heart attacks and strokes than those who live an unhealthy lifestyle

4. Diabetes
People who keep their body weight down have far less diabetes – almost 70% less than those who become overweight!

5. Cancer
Non smokers have a huge reduction in the risk of cancer-one third less…and not just lung cancer, but almost all cancers. Non smokers also have one third less heart disease than those who smoke.
Eating fruit and vegetables daily reduces cancer and hence the ‘five portions per day’ rule.

6. Dementia
In Caerphilly, the men who followed a healthy lifestyle had huge protection from loss of brain power – almost 70% less dementia.
The men who followed a healthy lifestyle but still got dementia were, on average, seven years older than those who followed none of the behaviours and got dementia.
“Use it or lose it!”

7. This is serious
Wales is ‘the sick man in Europe’ and the Welsh hold records for following the most unhealthy lifestyles

8. This is serious Wales in 2009 Smoking Obesity Diet Exercise Alcohol
25% of adults still smoke
20%of young girls smoke
Obesity
50% of people are overweight or obese
Diet
70% fail to eat enough fruit and vegetables
Exercise
70% fail to take a reasonable amount of regular exercise
Alcohol
50% admit they regularly exceed the guidelines, and 28% admit to frequent binge drinking

9. Targets For Health A low body weight A healthy diet Regular exercise
Not smoking
Low alcohol consumption

10. The Challenge
Take up one additional healthy behaviour today and stick with it tomorrow, the next day and the next…….

11. Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I’m not sure about the former.
Albert Einstein