People who are retired ‘should eat healthily’

People who are retired should make sure that they eat a healthy diet, according to In My Prime.

Dianne Bown-Wilson, chief executive of the organisation, which offers advice, information and support to mature people who are rethinking their lives, said people should carry on exercising too.

"The danger of retirement is that people can become less physically active and mentally engaged and turn to food and drink as compensatory behaviour," she explained.

Ms Bown-Wilson said that it is "never too late to … look after your health" and suggested that eating well, trying to lose weight and exercising regularly can have a "big effect" on an older person's quality of life.

She went on to say that people should stop smoking, reduce their alcohol intake and eat more fresh food.

Her comments follow the publication of Aviva's latest Real Retirement Report, which found that two in five over-55s have experienced redundancy, enforced early retirement or stopped work due to illness in the run up to retirement.

Are you going to try to stay active after you retire?