Talking Jersey

New Year is a time of resolutions, goals and inevitably breaking those same goals and resolutions within a week.

But Jersey's Medical Officer of Health thinks we should try and stick to our goals this year.

Dr Rosemary Geller says islanders need to take action to reverse the trend of obesity.

Fourteen per cent of adults and twelve per cent of children in Jersey are now classed as obese - and those figures are rising.

To combat that, Dr Geller has launched a ten year plan to try and get people fit.

She's come up with ten steps to make a difference.

They range from making sure people understand the importance of eating properly, to getting everyone to exercise every day.

Dr Geller says if people don't take action to change their lifestyles, the island will suffer from poor health, and shorter life expectancy; and businesses will lose productivity.

She hopes islanders will improve their standard of living this year by giving up smoking, and eating more healthily.

Dr Geller also says you should do some degree of exercise every day, even if it's a short walk or some housework.

And, now the New Year celebrations are over, she also says it's time to cut back on the amount of alcohol you drink.

She told us "I can't do this on my own; we need the government to look at this and to make the island a healthier place to live.

"But also, it is down to each individual to help with this because it is all about our choices that we take for ourselves so for instance, if you could leave your car behind just one day a week."

Over to you

What are your resolutions for 2008? Will you give up smoking, loose weight and cut back on the amount your drink?

Do you think you need to live a healthier lifestyle or are you fed up with everyone telling you to get fit and give everything up?