BB Fact Sheets – Health – Obesity

 Managing Your Health

• Keeping to a healthy weight is important to your overall health, and your preventative health strategy

• Take a moment to consider the risk factors associated with excessive weight gain – commonly known as obesity such as your physical shape, serious illness such as Heart Disease, Stroke, Diabetes, Cancer, and loss of lifestyle.

• Talk to your Doctor and seek information on foods, exercise, and lifestyle changes that may be of help to you. There’s no ideal weight that suits everybody. Each person is different and their healthy weight will be determined by different factors.

• Ask about taking a cholesterol test, blood sugar test, and body weight/ fat ratio test, which can detect obesity at an early stage

Baby Boomers and Obesity

• The most common health risk factor in Australia for Baby Boomers is excessive weight gain or becoming obese. It is estimated more than half of all Australian adults are either overweight or obese, are not doing enough physical activity, and is most common in Australians aged 50 to 59 years.

• Australian workers aged 45 to 69, who made up more than 40 per cent of the workforce, had the highest level of obesity of any age group, with 72 per cent of men and 58 per cent of women overweight according to researchers and peak body organisations

What Can I Do?

• Chat to your Doctor if you are worried about weight gain or give this information to someone you are worried about.

• Review your diet. Talk to a Dietician about eating a balanced diet.

             http://www.healthyactive.gov.au/Content/eating

• Calculate your Body Mass Index BMI. The website link below provides a simple test:

            http://www.healthyactive.gov.au/Content/your-bmi

• Think about becoming more physically active and set a modest goal to begin with. Try walking short distances rather than using the car. Aim to exercise for up to 30 minutes per day either all together or in shorter time slots. If possible, increase this up to 60 minutes per day while not exceeding recommended callory intakes

• Tips from other people

             http://www.measureup.gov.au/Content/What+tips+do+other+people+have

Healthdirect Australia - NSW, WA, SA, NT, ACT, TAS - 1800 022 222

Nurse on Call - VIC                                                          - 1300 60 60 24

 Australia  - http://www.healthyactive.gov.au/

                - http://www.gofor2and5.com.au/

                - http://www.measureup.gov.au/Content/Home

                - http://www.nutritionaustralia.org/

NSW        - http://www.gethealthynsw.com.au

               - http://www.livelifewell.nsw.gov.au

QLD        - http://www.eatwellbeactive.qld.gov.au/eatwellbeactive/

               - http://www.health.qld.gov.au/lightenup/

WA          - http://www.findthirtyeveryday.com.au/

               - http://www.myhealthybalance.com.au/

SA           - http://www.beactive.com.au/

TAS         - http://www.eatwelltas.com.au/

               - http://www.findthirtyeveryday.com.au/

               - http://www.getmoving.tas.gov.au/

NT           - http://www.health.nt.gov.au/Nutrition_and_Physical_Activity/

ACT        - http://www.healthpromotion.act.gov.au

               - http://www.findthirtyeveryday.com.au/

 

Multicultural Information:

Health In Site LOTE - http://www.healthinsite.gov.au/topics/Languages_Other_Than_English

Multicultural Health  - http://www.mhcs.health.nsw.gov.au/mhcs/topics.html#a

 

Indigenous Australians:

Health Info Net       - http://www.healthinfonet.ecu.edu.au/

 

 Healthy Eating                                     - http://www.healthyactive.gov.au/Content/eating

 Calculate your Body Mass Index (BMI) - http://www.healthyactive.gov.au/Content/your-bmi

 Warnings about Weight Loss Scams    - http://www.scamwatch.gov.au/content/index.phtml/

 Nutrition Australia                                - http://www.nutritionaustralia.org/

 Heart Foundation walking                   - http://www.heartfoundation.org.au/Walking/Pages/

Walk to work day                                 - http://www.walk.com.au/wtw/

Healthy eating at various life stages    - http://www.healthyactive.gov.au/Content/healthy-eating

Female                                              - http://www.healthyactive.gov.au/Content/female
 
Male                                                  -  http://www.healthyactive.gov.au/Content/male
 
 

 Refer to health peak bodies - http://www.heartfoundation.org.au/Pages/

                                         - http://www.cancer.org.au/Home.htm

                                         - http://www.diabetesaustralia.com.au/

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Disclaimer: The information contained in this section should not be used for individual medical advice. Please see your doctor if you have concerns or specific questions relating to your health.

This article was created by Frances Williams for babyboomers.com.au - Australia's website for Baby Boomers. Sources include Nutrition Australia and the Federal Government. Babyboomers.com.au is an online resource to help people find information and services on health, money, travel and recreation.