You Decide! Health

Residents shared their views about healthy lifestyles

More than 120 residents told the council and NHS Tower Hamlets how health services could be improved when they took part in You Decide! Health events across the borough.

At the events locals were encouraged to share their opinions about how they think local services can be made better to help people eat more healthily, exercise more, stop smoking and drink sensibly.

Residents’ suggestions about how healthy lifestyle services could be improved included the following:

Residents in Bethnal Green, Weavers, Mile End and Globe Town (LAP 1); Bethnal Green South, Spitalfields and Bangla Town (LAP 2) said:

• More access to fresh food e.g. Co-ops and healthier options in shops
• More outdoor gyms and better use of green spaces
• Better enforcement to prevent underage sales
• Education for people with alcohol problems and tips for families so they can see the tell tale signs.

Residents in Whitechapel, St Dunstan’s and Stepney Green (LAP 3); Shadwell St Katharine’s and Wapping (LAP4) said:

• Practical activities to demonstrate healthy eating e.g. healthy cooking classes
• Train local people to run exercise sessions so they can become accredited personal trainers
• Work in partnership with residents and different services such as the police, park rangers, to identify drinking hotspots in the borough
• To stop people smoking use shock tactics such as personal stories captured on film.

Residents in Bow East and Bow West (LAP 5); Mile End East and Bromley-by- Bow (LAP 6) said:

• Healthy food sessions with kits and instructions to take away
• Physical activities which are targeted towards black, minority, and ethnic groups, access to services for people with disabilities and a combination of healthy eating and physical activity
• To tackle alcohol reduction refer those who have been charged with drunk and disorderly behaviour to workshops and support groups
• To help people stop smoking continue to provide ongoing support (and devise a campaign which removes the “coolness of smoking.”

Residents in Limehouse, East India and Lansbury (LAP 7); Millwall, Blackwall and Cubitt Town (8 LAP) recommended:

• Teaching healthy eating at school through the arts and fun activities
• More free exercise classes
• Educating people about the dangers of excessive alcohol through e.g. families, religious leaders, and schools
• Support people to stop smoking by developing a buddying system.