Pharmacy Daily | Healthy lifestyles

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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