Registrations open on 18 August 2009 for a new web-based healthy lifestyle program, the Get on Track Challenge, developed to combat the growing rates of diabetes and obesity.
Related topics: health,physical activity
The Get on Track Challenge is a free team-based physical activity and healthy eating program available to all Western Australian adults.
Troy Cook, Diabetes WA Board Member, former Fremantle Dockers player and Be Active WA Ambassador, supports the initiative, which aims to help educate and motivate Western Australians to prevent unhealthy weight gain.
"Physical activity is a huge part of my everyday life. It keeps me healthy and I encourage everyone to find time in their day to take the challenge and become physically active," Mr Cook said.
"It's estimated that 40 per cent of Western Australians are overweight and 25 per cent are obese (1). Through physical activity and healthy eating Western Australians can get on track to a healthy weight."
The online program encourages people to team up with 6–8 friends, family members or work colleagues and take a virtual adventure along a Western Australian track.
Participants are encouraged to do 30 minutes of physical activity and eat two serves of fruit and five serves of vegetables every day.
"Nearly half of all Western Australian adults are doing less than the recommended amount of exercise (1). This number is concerning as physical inactivity can have devastating effects on your health," Mr Cook said
Diabetes WA's Director of Health Promotion Di Ledger said Western Australians could no longer ignore the fact that physical inactivity and poor nutrition were linked to obesity and chronic disease.
"Obesity causes about 23 per cent of type 2 diabetes, 21 per cent of cardiovascular disease and 20 per cent of colorectal, breast, uterine and kidney cancer (2). The key to reducing the burden of obesity is for people to consciously look for ways to increase their physical activity and make healthy food choices part of everyday life," she said.
Registration opens on 18 August and the first eight-week challenge begins on 31 August. The opportunity to set personalised dates by creating an individual competition is also available.
To register, simply visit the website www.getontrackwa.com.au or call Diabetes WA on 9325 7699.
The Get on Track Challenge is an initiative of Diabetes WA, the Heart Foundation and The Cancer Council WA, and is proudly funded by the Department of Health, Western Australia.
1. Diabetes WA and Epidemiology Branch, Department of Health, Western Australia. Diabetes In Western Australia. Perth, 2009.
2. Access Economics. The growing cost of obesity in 2008: three years on. Available from: www.accesseconomics.com.au/publicationsreports/showreport.php?id=172
2. Access Economics. The growing cost of obesity in 2008: three years on. Available from: www.accesseconomics.com.au/publicationsreports/showreport.php?id=172
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