Healthy lifestyles
February 1, 2012
COMMUNITY initiated and
managed healthy lifestyle
programs can be effective in
improving physical activity levels
and nutrition among Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander people,
according to a new report by
Closing the Gap Clearinghouse.
“Indigenous Australians suffer
the worst health of any population
group in Australia, having a burden
of disease that is estimated to be
2.5 times that of the non-
Indigenous population,” said
Clearinghouse spokesperson Dr
Fadwa Al-Yaman.
“Lifestyle related chronic
diseases, such as diabetes,
cardiovascular disease and liver
disease continue to lower the life
expectancy of Indigenous
Australians,” Al-Yaman added.
The research, titled Healthy
lifestyle programs for physical
activity and nutrition, found a
number of programs shown to be
effective that were initiated and
managed by local Indigenous
communities.
Positive results stemming from
the programs included stabilisation
of diabetes rates, and significant
falls in smoking rates, cholesterol
levels and blood pressure.
To read the paper CLICK HERE.
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