At Riverside Medical Practice, we are committed to helping you lead a healthier lifestyle.

  • Understanding the drivers of unhealthy behaviours and making informed choices can significantly improve your overall well-being.
  • Below, we provide advice and support on key areas such as weight management, smoking cessation, and alcohol management.

Weight Management

In the UK, it's estimated that around 1 in every 4 adults and 1 in every 5 children aged 10 to 11 are living with obesity. Maintaining a healthy weight is crucial for your overall health. The most widely used method to check if you're a healthy weight is the Body Mass Index (BMI). A BMI calculation in the healthy weight range is between 18.5 to 24.9.

BMI Categories:

  • Below 18.5 – Underweight range.

  • 18.5 to 24.9 – Healthy weight range.

  • 25 to 29.9 – Overweight range.

  • 30 to 39.9 – Obese range.

  • 40 or above – Severely obese range.

Obesity is a serious health concern that increases the risk of many other health conditions, including:

  • Type 2 diabetes

  • Coronary heart disease

  • Some types of cancer, such as breast cancer and bowel cancer

  • Stroke

Self-Referral for Weight Management:

You can self-refer if you have the following BMI:

  • BMI >29.5kg/m² without co-morbidities

  • BMI >24.5kg/m² with co-morbidities

Contact the Adult Weight Management Team:

Smoking Cessation

Smoking is a major risk factor for many chronic diseases and reduces your overall health. Smoking harms nearly every organ in your body and reduces life expectancy by an average of 10 years for those who continue to smoke. In the UK, around 76,000 people die from smoking each year, with 20,000 of these deaths due to cardiovascular disease.

Health Risks of Smoking:

  • Causes around 7 out of 10 cases of lung cancer (70%)

  • Can cause cancer in many other parts of the body, including the mouth, throat, voice box, oesophagus, bladder, bowel, cervix, kidney, liver, stomach, and pancreas.

  • Passive smoking increases health risks, especially for babies and children, who are at higher risk of chest infections, meningitis, persistent cough, cot death, and ear infections.

Quit Smoking Support:

Alcohol Management

Men and women are advised not to drink more than 14 units of alcohol per week. This is equivalent to 6 pints of average-strength beer or 10 small glasses of lower-strength wine.

Health Risks of Excessive Alcohol Consumption:

  • Long-term harm to babies if consumed during pregnancy

  • Deterioration of mental health

  • Increased risk of developing illnesses such as mouth cancer, throat cancer, breast cancer, stroke, heart disease, liver disease, brain damage, and damage to the nervous system after 10 to 20 years of regularly drinking more than 14 units.

Alcohol Unit Guide:

  • 1 unit of alcohol is equivalent to:

    • 25ml of standard 40% whiskey

    • 250ml of standard 4% beer

    • 76ml of standard 13% wine

    • 218ml of standard 4.5% cider

    • 275ml of standard 4% alcopop

Alcohol Support:

  • Call: 0333 999 3577

  • Email: [email protected]

  • Book an appointment with a GP or nurse to discuss your alcohol use further and get referred to the appropriate team.

Me and My Health

If you have a long-term physical or mental health condition, this scheme aims to help you and your carer to provide clear information to health and care staff who may need to visit your home in an emergency.

Find out more