Physical Health and Wellbeing Blog Articles

Period Poverty — The Price of Being a Woman

Having a monthly period is something every female goes through from puberty to menopause. It is part of life and part of the reproductive cycle. However, the cost of a monthly period is rarely discussed. When money is tight, people make cuts where they can. Very often it is groceries and personal hygiene products that take the hit…

The Physical Effects of Stress

As part of Mental Awareness Week 2022, we will look at the signs and effects of stress on the body. In particular, we will examine the physical effects of stress and will look at some ideas for managing stress.

Stress can be defined as a feeling of emotional or physical tension. Stress is the way your body reacts…

Orthorexia — When Healthy Eating Becomes Unhealthy

Orthorexia is a term that many will not be familiar with. It is not a commonly known eating disorder because it is a relatively new condition. A clear definition of orthorexia is that it is an eating disorder that involves an intense…

Freddie Flintoff: Living with Bulimia — A Documentary Review

This article presents a review of the recently aired BBC1 documentary ‘Freddie Flintoff: Living with Bulimia’ (BBC1, 28th September 2020, 9pm). It was a harrowing report of a man in the public eye struggling with an eating disorder…

Male Eating Disorders

A common misconception people have about eating disorders is that it only affects women. However, this is completely untrue. The rise in eating disorders among men is alarming. Between 10–20% of people diagnosed…

What Does it Mean to Have a Positive Body Image?

Having a positive body image is frequently in the media both online and offline. Body positivity is the belief that all people should have a positive body image, and it challenges the ways in which society presents and views the physical body. Body positivity does not come naturally to many people. We are constantly bombarded with images of what is and isn’t acceptable in relation to body image…

A Practical Guide to Healthy Eating and Fitness

The ongoing obesity problem doesn’t show any signs of decreasing. The major worry is how this affects school-age youths. Healthy eating and fitness education from a young age will lay the groundwork for living a healthy life into adulthood. When educating young people about health and nutrition, the key is to keep it simple and straightforward…

How an Unhealthy Relationship with Food Can Lead to Eating Disorders

We need food to survive — a fairly simple concept. However, the rapid rise in eating disorders indicates a fundamental problem whereby many people have a distorted relationship with food which leads to eating disorders. The definition of an eating disorder is a health condition which causes a serious change in ones normal eating habits and which could, if left untreated…

The Government’s Role in Promoting Healthy Eating

The cost of eating a healthy diet compared to a diet of convenience and processed foods can be prohibitive to those on a low income. The price of fresh fruit and vegetables is often higher than sugary, high-fat, processed foods. It is therefore difficult for many people to provide their families with a healthy diet containing all the necessary nutrients. When healthier foods are more expensive, it leaves little choice to those on a strict budget…

The Importance of Teaching Healthy Eating in Schools

The increase in childhood obesity and teenage obesity is steadily growing. The health risks linked to obesity are serious and it is of greater concern if these health risks are appearing in a younger age group. Of major concern is the increase in weight-related diabetes. Teaching children about healthy eating and fitness has never been more important. To ensure youngsters live a fit and healthy lifestyle, they need to receive accurate education in school…

Social Media and its Negative Effects on Body Image

Never before has the focus on body image been as prevalent as it is today. We live in an age of social media with an abundance of Instagram stories, Snapchat filters, Twitter feeds, Facebook threads… the list goes on. Sadly a large number of the pictures and images posted on social networks focus on body image and the pressure for people to resemble their idols and those they follow…

Generalised Anxiety Disorder

During Mental Health Awareness Week 2018 we have produced a series of blogs which highlight the increase in mental health disorders and the impact this has on physical wellbeing. A key point to remember is that maintaining good mental health is as important as maintaining good physical health. Our first blog will examine generalised anxiety disorder (GAD)…