A NEW health service has been launched today to help Southampton residents develop more control over their lifestyle.

Southampton Healthy Living is a partnership of health, voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations.

The group will be working with communities to help people live longer, fuller lives and to reduce health inequalities between communities in the city.

It comes after figures revealed 62 per cent of residents in Southampton are either overweight or obese and 21 per cent smoke.

The new service is led by Social Care in Action (SCA) Group, a one of the UK’s leading health and social care social enterprises.

It boasts several features, including an online “healthy living hub” which offers a self-help guide.

Groups will be put on across the city to help people making similar changes come together to talk about their experiences and access any support they need.

Advisors are also available to talk to people by calling 0300 123 3791.

The service has been hailed by Cllr Dave Shields, Southampton City Council’s health boss.

He said: “We face many challenges in the city in the battle against long term conditions like diabetes, respiratory illness and heart disease.

“It’s really important that prevention becomes everyone’s business and is not seen as the sole responsibility of any one particular agency.

“We all have an important part to play as active citizens, good neighbours, caring parents or responsible employers and I want to make sure that the city council, the local NHS and the city’s voluntary sector continue to work together with wider civic society to promote a healthy city.”

SCA Group is joined by Southampton Voluntary Services, the umbrella body for local voluntary and community groups in Southampton, and Solent NHS Trust, the main provider of community health services in the city.

The service will be operating across the city, in locations that are accessible to local people, to offer support with making small lifestyle changes that can have a big impact on health.

This will include working closely with GPs, local pharmacies and others.