Once upon a time, there lived a town filled with lots of people, flourishing with so much greenery, sunshine, hustling and bustling in the market and more. People in the town had no worry in the world and go to bed at the end of the day.

One cloudy morning, the town woke up to no more greenery, sunshine covered in a shroud of smoke. “You, try pulling this blanket away from the sun”, said one resident in a confused state. Another said, “water the plants with more water.”

As this carried on, residents, worried the amazing sunshine, greenery and flourishing markets would be no more, began chanting with so much hope, “race to health! Race to health!”

Now the race to health became more watering of the plants, choice to cycle to the markets, picking fresh apples along the way, eating healthier, to bring back the beautiful shiny sunshine. And truth be told, sunshine again, green shrubs, grasses and plants sprouted over a wide distance, as far as the eyes can see. Race to health it was.

My name is Adedayo Sadiku, Whole Systems Obesity Officer(East Kent). My role sits within Public Health, Kent County Council, and I work on the Whole Systems Approach to a Healthy Weight in Kent Programme, focusing on increasing physical activity, healthy eating and living a healthier lifestyle among the people in the community. For more information, please visit: https://www.kent.gov.uk/social-care-and-health/health/one-you-kent/healthy-weight