Dr Gill Jenkins - Consultant, Nuffield Health

1. Challenges of Implementing Health
& Wellbeing into modern Living
Dr Gill Jenkins
GP, Nuffield
Bristol

2. Modern Living?
• 24 hour communications – can we escape?
• Want it NOW attitude, demanded of you, ? and by you
• High expectations regards health and longevity, and the NHS?
• Has ‘contentment’ gone as a concept?
• ‘My Right’ not ‘My Responsibility’
• Social pressures to achieve, to look perfect, to attain money and
status, live to old age with no illness
• Easy access to food in large portions
• Easy to avoid activity
• Open attitude to sex
• Easy to find drink & drugs
• We are learning to create improvements in public health –
– eg ’nudges’ to smoking less –not in public places, availability of e cigs
– Changes in food labelling to promote understanding of healthy role

3. Lifestyle
• Diet, - ‘the healthy plate’
• Weight
• Activity/ Exercise
• Habits
– Alcohol
– Tobacco
– Street Drugs
• Work and Social
activities

4. Healthy Content
Portion Size
Organic?
Diet fads
Supplements
Liquid Foods
Proteins
Diet

5. Weight
• UK BMI prevalence among adults by age and gender
show that in 2013, just over a quarter of men 26%( v
13.2% in 1993 ) and just under a quarter of women ,
24% ( v 16.4% in 1993) were obese, and 67% of men ( v
57% in 1993) and 57% per cent of women ( v 48% in
1993)were overweight or obese.

6. How Active are you?

7. Work
• Time! No Time! Pressure, Pressure, Pressure...
• Do you still enjoy your work?
• Is it possible to prioritise your health and activity
around work hours, or even during?
• Specific Risks at work
– Computer / screen use / Position & Posture
– Machinery/Equipment
– Chemicals
– Driving
• Can you turn the gadgets off at the
end of the work day....?

8. Socialising
• Easier than ever?? Or no time?
• Do you feel isolated or lonely?
• Face to face is invaluable, where possible
• Facetime /Skype ?Other – some benefits, especially for the
housebound, isolated, disabled, elderly
• ‘Social Media’ – Good or Bad? Your thoughts?
• Support of Friends / Inherited Family/ Own family
• Interests/ Hobbies/Sports/Faith
..But some time alone is also very important...

9. Protecting your Psyche
Mental Health always relates to Physical
Health, and vice versa
• Rest and Sleep are vital for both
• Do you have ‘mental resilience’
• Do you have support? From whom?
• Can you maintain your own space & own
time?
• Is anxiety affecting your health?
• Is depression an issue?
• Do you think you have serious mental
health issues?
• How do you cope in times of stress?

10. Self-Care
• Healthy diet
– Eatwell plates/ Portion size/ ? Vitamins & Supplements
• Good sleep - the time when your brain makes sense of your days
input and your body repairs and regenerates
• ‘Me time’/ ‘Down time’ / ‘Thinking time’
• ‘Talking it out’
• Do you take any Activity? Specific ‘sports’ as such are not
essential
• Managing your illness
– Acute
– Chronic
• Third sector Advice
– Physical health
– Mental Health
– Financial Health

11. 5 Ways to Wellbeing
Connect
Feeling close to / valued by others is a fundamental human need that contributes to
functioning well in the world.
Be active
Regular physical activity is associated with good physical health, lower rates of depression
and anxiety across all age groups and slows age-related cognitive decline .
Take notice
Savouring ‘the moment’ helps reaffirm your life priorities , strengthens & broadens
awareness, directly enhances well-being, self-understanding, allows you to make positive
choices based on your own values and motivations.
Learn
Continued learning throughout life enhances self-esteem, encourages social interaction in
more active life. Work or educational activities help lift us out of depression. Setting goals,
especially related to adult learning, is strongly associated with higher levels of wellbeing.
Give
Individuals who show interest in helping others are more likely to rate themselves as happy.

12. Supportive therapies
• The ‘talking therapies’ Counselling
& Psychotherapy
• Psycho-sexual
• Relationship
• Addiction – Alcohol, drugs, gambling
• Anxiety
• Bereavement
• Work-related
• Weight Management
• Physical therapies & Massage
• Alternative therapies
– Music therapy
– Art Therapy
– Sports classes
– Join something!

13. Prompt & Appropriate Medical Care
• Health and symptom awareness, physical
and mental
• Lifestyle awareness
• Preventative medicine
– Vaccinations
– NHS Screening programmes
• Breast
• Cervical
• Bowel Cancer
• Aortic aneurysm
• Blood Pressure
• Diabetes
• Screening In pregnancy
• Seeking help promptly
– to prevent disease development
– to maximise successful outcomes

14. Questions?