Introduction to healthy eating and weight
Being a healthy weight is important for good health and a healthy weight usually means being within a set range that compares your weight to your height. A healthy weight is calculated using a body mass index (BMI) score in adults and a BMI centile in children.
Calculate your BMI with NHS choices.
Eating a nutritious and balanced diet is key to maintaining a healthy weight. It helps us generally feel better. Some of the other benefits include:
- increased energy and stamina
- improved sleep and concentration
- a positive impact on your mood and well-being
- helps you to maintain a healthy body weight
- lowers your risk of developing chronic health conditions like heart disease and cancer
Support to achieve a healthy weight for adults.
Weight management support for children.
The Eatwell guide
Eating a wide variety of foods in the right proportions and staying hydrated can help you achieve and maintain a healthy body weight.
High fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) food and food labels
Eating too many foods that are high in fat, sugar and salt can increase your risk of high blood pressure and heart disease. It can also lead to weight gain and tooth decay. These types of foods include:
- sweets
- cakes
- chocolate
- crisps
- biscuits
- sugary drinks
You should try to eat these foods less often, and in small amounts.
For information on food labels and how to understand them, visit the NHS website
Healthy eating and young people
Defining children as overweight or obese is a complex process. Children of different ages and sexes grow and develop at different rates. This means that a different method is used for children than for adults
BMI is calculated by dividing a person's weight (in kilograms) by the square of their height (in metres). For children, this is compared to a reference sample of measurements, which takes age and sex into consideration.
Find out about a child’s healthy weight on the Better Health Families web pages.