the-BA : New Year: New You?

The festive period is over and we have all made our New Year resolutions: give up smoking, join the gym, lose a couple of pounds. But will any of us actually stick to them, or will we soon be lighting up another cigarette and letting our gym membership sit unused in a drawer?

“The key to keeping New Year Resolutions is not just to set achievable goals, but also to work out how you will reach those goals,” says Dr Amelia Lake, nutritionist and dietitian with the Human Nutrition Research Centre at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne. “Instead of just saying ‘I’ll go to the gym more often’, set yourself targets, ask yourself who you can go with and look at the barriers that might prevent you going. Be flexible, if you break your resolution, don’t despair, but start again.”

Towards the end of 2004, the Government published its White Paper on Public Health. It included measures to tackle smoking, obesity and alcohol abuse with the aim of establishing an environment that encourages people to lead a healthy lifestyle. Could the Government help us to stick to our New Year resolutions, or is this just another example of a ‘nanny state’?

“The Government is in a no-win situation,” says Dr Lake. “If they fail to act, they will be accused of doing nothing. If they encourage us to adopt a healthier lifestyle, they are accused of interfering. Their measures will not force people to exercise more or to eat better –rather, they are enabling the individual to make healthier choices.”

On Tuesday 25 January, Dr Lake will be speaking at The x-change at the Dana Centre, London, about our New Year resolutions and the Government’s White Paper on Public Health. She will be joined by Guardian science correspondent Ian Sample and other speakers.
This audience-led discussion will be chaired by broadcaster Toby Murcott. To book a free place email events@the-ba.net or call 020 7019 4940.

The Guardian is the media partner for the x-change.

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