Lifestyle

By Jasmine Stephens, Family Editor The World Health Organisation regards childhood obesity as one of the biggest global public health challenges of this century. The latest figures from the National Child Measurement programme show that over 33% of 10-11 year olds and 22% of 4-5 year olds are either obese or overweight. Public Health England has reported that in 5-7 year olds, 76% of boys and 77% of girls do not meet the government’s own physical activity recommendations. Stark figures. Barely...

By Jasmine Stephens, Family Editor Do they have elephants there? Will the baboons trash our car? Is it going to be like ‘Jurassic Park’? Are we nearly there yet??!! The kids were asleep in the back of the car and my husband was sick of my questions before we got off the M62. I’d managed to reach the ripe old age of 35 without ever visiting a safari park, but my husband was quite the veteran, having gone once with...

By Nathan Lee, TLE Correspondent   On Friday evening I was sat at home awaiting my girlfriend’s return after a hard day at the office when my phone buzzed with the message: “Get the wine and nipples ready”. I promptly removed my top and poured her a glass of Malbec, only to be left red faced by her following message: “NIBBLES! I meant nibbles”. Autocorrect thy cruel mistress. But apparently I’m not alone. New research has revealed 70 per cent of Brits...

By Nathan Lee, TLE Correspondent  A new survey has revealed money worries are the main thing keeping Brits awake at night with as many as nine in ten admitting they’re plagued with sleepless nights, mostly due to fretting over finances. The research of 2,000 adults found money worries topped a myriad of reasons Brits can’t get to sleep, with pressures at work, ill-health and mulling over family matters also a top cause of insomnia. Sunday was found to be the worst...

By Jasmine Stephens, Family Editor Every January my New Year’s resolution is to find a way to get fitter, but by March I’ve already conveniently forgotten the new trainers stashed in the porch. I like to think I am healthy enough to run for the bus, but the truth is I haven’t done any organised exercise since I left school in 1997 and was no longer forced to run around a muddy field while a sadistic PE teacher shouted words...

By Jasmine Stephens, Family Editor  The day you become a parent changes you forever. You cross the Rubicon, you leap into the breach, there’s no turning back. Your washing machine and kettle yearn for the simpler times of a bygone era. But nowhere is the paradigm shift more palpable than the bi-annual event that is the changing of the clocks. In the rose-tinted, good old days of pre-kids, I used to worry about getting to work on time the day...

By Dr Mo Zoha, expert in Happiness at London’s Nightingale Hospital Realise money doesn’t buy you happiness. It has been found that as long as you have enough money to pay for necessities and live comfortably, anything above that does not necessarily equate to more happiness. Spend money on experiences, not objects. Objects and possessions do not necessarily make us happier, but spending time with family and friends does. Enjoy the moment. Older people tend to be happier, perhaps because...

 By Dr Nerina Ramlakhan, sleep and energy expert at Nightingale Hospital Pay attention to your sleep environment. Keep your room free of clutter and junk. Turn off all lights, as bright lights may keep you awake. Make sure it is as quiet as possible to guarantee deep and undisturbed sleep, or use a white noise machine (or fan in summer) to cut out distracting noises. Avoid technology. Smart phones, laptops, and other electronic devices make our brains active. Distance yourself...

By Esin Huseyin I was lucky enough to head to Walthamstow's latest addition, the brand spanking new yoga studios, East of Eden. It was so new in fact, I had a little trouble finding the place as there was no signage, and the interior was a little unfinished - but I love that, no distraction from the studio itself. You’ll be glad to know it’s all complete now! I threw myself a little into the deep end considering I haven’t practiced...