Changing lifestyles - Help win this battle

The holidays are remote enough now to allow great numbers of people to begin the hard slog of turning their New Year resolutions into real achievement.

Today, the first Monday of the year, marks the first day of challenge for tens of thousands of people who want to change their habits, especially their diet.

Many more, some not for the first time, will try to stop smoking. Others will modify their drinking. Some have promised to take more exercise to lose weight and recover confidence, physical ability, and self-esteem.

It is a measure of our frailty that only a minority of those trying to change for the better will succeed. However, many, many more would if they had the active support of those around them. None of us should underestimate how difficult these challenges can be or how inspiring the support of loved ones and friends can be. We should all go out of our way to encourage those brave enough to confront these debilitating habits.