Get Healthy this Chinese New Year

Membersof the Chinese community who are overweight or obese will benefit from a new healthcoaching service provided in Mandarin and Cantonese.

MeredithClaremont, Executive Director of the Centre for Population Health said the GetHealthy Service Chinese Coaching program is now available to NSW residents whoare 16 years and over.

“It’sgreat to see an effective telephone coaching program being tailored for theChinese community. This is a great way to start the Chinese New Year,” MsClaremont said.

“Mandarinand Cantonese speaking bilingual coaches support participants to reach theirgoals in healthy eating, being physically active, reducing alcohol andachieving a healthy weight.”

TheChinese coaching program has already received positive feedback from theChinese community.

“很开心政府能安排健康服务，保持民众的身体健康，预防重大疾病，对整个社区、对家庭、个人都有重要意义”. “I’m very happy the Government isoffering a health service to keep people physically healthy and to preventserious illnesses. This has significant meaning for the whole community,families and for the individual” – Chen, 47 years.

“健康指导员详细介绍如何做到健康饮食，积极锻炼，心理乐观等，告诉这样做的目的以及如何达到这样的目的”. “My health coach explained in lots ofdetail how to eat healthily, be physically active, think positively, set goalsand how to achieve these goals” – Michael, 55 years.

“我是一个糖尿病前期患者，通过了此服务加深了我对健康饮食、运动、保持体重的认识。今天我持之以恒，我的糖尿稳定下来。没有加深，我佷开心”. “I have pre-diabetes. Through thisService, my knowledge about diet, exercise and maintaining a healthy bodyweight has deepened. I’ve maintained healthy habits and now my blood sugar ismore stable, pre-diabetes has not become worse, I am very happy” – Michelle, 76years.

Theprogram has a website, phone services, text messages, emails and culturallyadapted resources in English, Simplified and Traditional Chinese.

In2019-20, the NSW Ministry of Health allocated $36.6 million to programs totackle obesity, with $24.7 million of this for the prevention of childhoodobesity.