02 October 2008

Get behind National Walk to Work Day

NSW Chief Health Officer, Professor Jim Bishop is encouraging greater participation in National Walk to Work Day this Friday, October 3. "We all lead increasingly busy lives, but it's important we make time for our health," Professor Bishop said.

"Walk to Work Day is a great way to kick start a healthy habit of regular physical activity.

"Walking is a simple activity with excellent benefits. Just 30 minutes of exercise every day, even in 10 to 15 minute blocks, can increase cardiovascular fitness, strengthen bones, reduce excess body fat and boost muscle power and endurance.

"All it takes to get moving is to walk to work rather than drive, get off public transport a few stops early, walk your children to school, or go for a walk during lunch," Professor Bishop said.

Research shows that 51.7 percent of adults in NSW are overweight or obese.

"By 2025, a total of 4.6 million Australians are projected to be obese," Professor Bishop said.

"Obesity is linked to an increasing number of diseases including heart disease, cancer and type 2 diabetes.

"This, and the increasing levels of obesity in children, is why the NSW Government launched a new $36 million state-wide strategy to tackle rising obesity in August.

"The strategy includes programs aimed at helping people avoid becoming overweight and helping those who are already overweight or obese," Professor Bishop said.

Key aspects of the NSW Health Obesity Strategy include:

o A sustained state-wide social marketing campaign promoting the importance of healthy eating and physical activity;
o Establishment of a NSW Get Healthy Advice Line - a telephone help line to provide information and coaching for people who have decided to make the change to a healthier lifestyle;
o A Parenting Program based on recent trials which showed good results in supporting parents of overweight and obese children;
o Establishment of an Obesity Prevention Research Centre as a world-class centre of excellence in overweight and obesity research and policy development; and
o Specialised Medical and Surgical Clinics across NSW to provide multidisciplinary medical programs and bariatric surgery for those who are morbidly obese.

National Walk to Work Day is an initiative of the Pedestrian Council of Australia and endorsed by the NSW Government.

It is held annually to remind all Australians that regular physical activity such as walking is a great way to not only avoid obesity but also a range of illnesses including high blood pressure and cholesterol, diabetes, arthritis and cancer.

As one of the ambassadors for the Day, NSW Health staff are being encouraged to walk to work rather than drive, to get off public transport a few stops early, walk their children to school, or go for a walk during their lunchbreak on October 3.

Register at www.walk.com.au

For a range of health information, go online to www.health.nsw.gov.au