Voices is the Dorset Echo's weekly youth page - written for young people by young people.

This week Oliver puts forward his answers for tackling obesity

A rare a day goes by without hearing the NHS is suffering and questions are raised as to what can be done to ease the pressure.

While I believe it is not arguable the NHS is under strain, I would argue we as individuals can take some strain off hard-working doctors and nurses – and aid the taxpayer in the process.

An issue that costs the NHS £5 billion per year – 35 per cent of the national spending on the Armed Forces - is perfectly preventable.

Diet-based diabetes and obesity is on a sharp rise and has been described by some as an ‘epidemic’.

According to the NHS, Unhealthily high weights in Millennials is set to rise to 70 per cent between the ages of 35 and 45 - which is worse than the US.

As individuals, we must take responsibility for the effect this is having on our astoundingly brilliant health service. And the solution? Swimming.

Numerous swimming pools are scattered throughout the county, such as Osprey Leisure Centre on Portland and1610 in Dorchester amongst dozens of others.

Swimming is an accessible activity and studies by Sciencedirect have proven that it has more positive effects than out-of-water exercise.

Heart and blood pressure problems created by obesity are alleviated within water and the sense of weightlessness, as well as the cool, refreshing nature of the pool are amazing appetisers to get into swimming.

Additionally, swimming is manageable to all people no matter what age or weight, because of the comfort it offers as pressure is spread throughout the body, therefore there are no build-ups of pressure or pain.

Furthermore, swimming is one of the best forms of cardiovascular exercise in terms of the amount of muscles exercised and the quality of the exercise.

For me it is certainly amongst one of the most enjoyable and social activities available locally.

Not only is Dorset dense with swimming pools, many of us are mere minutes from the beautiful Jurassic Coast. What better form of sightseeing is there than connecting with the coastline’s past with a gentle float in the ocean?

It’s time to get out there, enjoy ourselves and save the NHS a penny whilst we’re at it.

By Oliver Streather-Paul