Healthy Tower Hamlets: New Campaign Targets Long‑Term Health Risks

Key Points

• New “Healthy Tower Hamlets” campaign launched to help residents improve long‑term health by focusing on five major risk factors: smoking, alcohol use, mental wellbeing, blood pressure checks, and physical activity alongside eating well.
• The initiative aims to make healthy changes feel achievable through small, manageable steps rather than drastic lifestyle overhauls.
• Real stories from local people in Tower Hamlets are being used to show how ordinary residents are taking action and benefitting from support.
• The campaign addresses the fact that many residents are unsure where to start or where to turn when trying to improve their health.
• The message stresses that a single small step – such as attending a new class, getting support to stop smoking or adding more vegetables to meals – can lead to lasting healthy habits.
• The programme promotes easier access to local health and wellbeing services so that residents can find help close to home.
• Residents are encouraged to have their blood pressure checked regularly to spot problems early and reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke.
• Mental wellbeing is treated as a core part of overall health, alongside physical activity, diet, smoking and alcohol use.
• The campaign underlines that moving more does not have to mean intense exercise; it can include everyday activities that keep people active.
• Local partners and services are expected to collaborate under the “Healthy Tower Hamlets” banner to offer joined‑up support for lifestyle changes.

Tower Hamlets (Healthy Tower Hamlets) January 19, 2026 – A new public health campaign called “Healthy Tower Hamlets” has been launched to shine a light on five key risk factors that have the greatest impact on long‑term health, encouraging residents to take small, manageable steps towards healthier habits supported by local stories and easier access to services.

Why is “Healthy Tower Hamlets” focusing on five major risk factors?

The “Healthy Tower Hamlets” campaign is built around five central risk factors: smoking, alcohol use, mental wellbeing, checking blood pressure, moving more and eating well, which evidence consistently links to long‑term health outcomes and life expectancy. These areas were chosen because changes in these behaviours can significantly reduce the risk of chronic conditions such as heart disease, stroke, cancer and diabetes, while also improving everyday quality of life.

Public health leaders behind the campaign argue that concentrating on a clear set of priorities helps residents understand where to begin, rather than feeling overwhelmed by conflicting health messages. By highlighting smoking, alcohol, mental health, blood pressure checks, physical activity and diet together, the campaign presents a joined‑up picture of what it means to live more healthily over the long term.

How does the campaign encourage small, manageable steps?

The core message of “Healthy Tower Hamlets” is that it can be hard to know where to turn or where to start when trying to improve health, so the emphasis is on taking one small, realistic step at a time. Instead of asking residents to transform their lifestyle overnight, the campaign suggests actions such as reaching out for help, trying a new class, getting support to stop smoking, adding more vegetables to meals or going for a blood pressure check.

These small changes are presented as the foundation of sustainable healthy habits, recognising that gradual shifts are more likely to stick than short‑lived, drastic resolutions. Campaign materials stress that a single decision – for example, booking a blood pressure appointment or attending a local activity session – can be the moment that starts a positive chain reaction for long‑term wellbeing.

In what ways are real local stories being used to support residents?

“Healthy Tower Hamlets” uses real stories from local people to show how residents with different backgrounds, ages and circumstances have taken steps to improve their health. These accounts are intended to make the campaign relatable and to demonstrate that positive change is possible even when people face time pressures, financial challenges or long‑standing habits.

By placing local voices at the heart of the initiative, the campaign seeks to reduce stigma and isolation around issues such as smoking, alcohol use and mental health, showing that many others in the community are navigating similar challenges. Real‑life examples also help illustrate practical ways that people have accessed support, from joining a class close to home to making simple changes to shopping and cooking routines.

How does “Healthy Tower Hamlets” make it easier to access services?

A key aim of the campaign is to enable easier access to health and wellbeing services so residents do not feel lost when they decide to act. Information under the “Healthy Tower Hamlets” banner is designed to signpost people towards local support for stopping smoking, managing alcohol use, improving mental wellbeing, getting blood pressure checked, increasing physical activity and eating more healthily.

The campaign highlights that support may come from a range of providers, including GP surgeries, pharmacies, community centres, voluntary organisations and specialist lifestyle services, but that they are all part of a wider effort to improve health in Tower Hamlets. Clear routes into services are crucial to removing practical barriers, so that when someone takes that first step of reaching out, they can find timely, appropriate help rather than giving up in frustration.

Why is smoking a priority in the Healthy Tower Hamlets campaign?

Smoking remains one of the biggest preventable causes of illness and early death, which is why it is a central focus of “Healthy Tower Hamlets”. The campaign explains that stopping smoking at any age brings health benefits, from better breathing and circulation to reduced risks of heart disease, stroke and several types of cancer.

Residents are encouraged not to attempt quitting alone if they do not feel ready, but to use local stop‑smoking support, which can include behavioural advice, group sessions and access to stop‑smoking aids where available. The message underlines that even if someone has tried to quit before and returned to smoking, each attempt can teach them something new, and seeking support can increase their chances of success.

How is alcohol use addressed by Healthy Tower Hamlets?

Alcohol use is highlighted in the campaign as another major factor influencing long‑term health, with heavy or regular drinking linked to liver disease, heart problems, some cancers and mental health difficulties. “Healthy Tower Hamlets” encourages residents to review their drinking habits and consider changes such as reducing the number of drinking days, alternating drinks with non‑alcoholic options or setting personal limits.

The initiative points residents towards sources of help if they feel their alcohol use is affecting their health, relationships or work, stressing that asking for support is a positive, responsible step. By framing alcohol in terms of overall wellbeing rather than moral judgement, the campaign seeks to create an environment where people feel more comfortable talking about their drinking and exploring healthier patterns.

How is mental wellbeing being supported within the campaign?

Mental wellbeing is treated by “Healthy Tower Hamlets” as a core pillar of health, not an optional extra, recognising that stress, anxiety, low mood and isolation can affect physical health and make it harder to sustain healthy habits. The campaign encourages residents to consider small steps that support mental wellbeing, such as connecting with others, joining local groups, building daily routines, speaking to someone they trust or accessing professional support when needed.

By placing mental wellbeing alongside smoking, alcohol, blood pressure checks, activity and diet, the initiative sends a clear signal that emotional health deserves the same attention as physical symptoms. Residents are reminded that seeking help for mental health concerns is not a sign of weakness but a proactive way to improve overall health and resilience.

Why are blood pressure checks emphasised so strongly?

Checking blood pressure is singled out because high blood pressure often has no obvious symptoms yet significantly increases the risk of heart disease, stroke and other serious conditions if left untreated. “Healthy Tower Hamlets” encourages residents to get their blood pressure checked, whether through their GP, pharmacy or community events, especially if they have other risk factors or a family history of cardiovascular disease.

The campaign explains that identifying raised blood pressure early allows people and clinicians to work together on lifestyle changes and, where appropriate, medication to bring it under control. Regular monitoring is framed as a simple, quick step that can have a major impact on long‑term health, particularly when combined with improvements in diet, physical activity and reduced smoking and alcohol use.

What does ‘moving more’ mean in practical terms for residents?

Rather than focusing solely on structured exercise, “Healthy Tower Hamlets” presents “moving more” as any increase in everyday physical activity that fits into residents’ lives. This can include walking more often, using stairs instead of lifts, taking part in community exercise classes, playing with children outdoors or choosing active travel where possible.

The campaign stresses that people do not need to be athletes to benefit; even modest increases in movement can improve heart health, mood, energy levels and sleep quality. By promoting accessible forms of activity, the initiative aims to reduce feelings of intimidation that some residents may experience when faced with images of intense workouts or gym‑based fitness.

How does the campaign encourage residents to eat well?

Eating well is presented as a practical, achievable goal rather than a strict or expensive “diet”, with “Healthy Tower Hamlets” focusing on simple changes such as adding more vegetables to plates, choosing healthier snacks and moderating foods high in fat, salt and sugar. The campaign recognises that cost of living pressures can make food choices harder, so it encourages residents to look for affordable ways to improve meals, including using seasonal produce, planning portions and making use of local advice.

The message is that every small improvement in what people eat can contribute to better long‑term health, especially when combined with other steps like moving more and moderating alcohol. By linking healthy eating with the broader range of risk factors, residents can see how diet interacts with weight, blood pressure, energy levels and overall wellbeing, reinforcing the value of gradual, sustainable changes.

How can residents begin and sustain healthier habits with Healthy Tower Hamlets?

“Healthy Tower Hamlets” repeatedly comes back to the idea that taking one small step can make all the difference in building healthier habits. Residents are encouraged to pick one area – such as booking a blood pressure check, seeking help to stop smoking, talking to someone about stress, joining a local activity session or adding more vegetables to meals – and act on it rather than waiting for a “perfect” moment.