NSW Health is encouraging people to set realistic New Year’s resolutionsand start 2020 with small, healthy lifestyle changes that are more likely tolast.
Dr Chris Rissel, NSW Office ofPreventive Health Director said small steps are the key to making big lifestylechanges that are more sustainable.
“Breaking oldhabits can be hard. People can have great intentions and then break their NewYear’s resolutions within just a few weeks because they have unrealisticexpectations about how quickly they can make significant changes,” Dr Risselsaid.
“A healthylife is more like a long walk than a short sprint. The NSW Get Healthy website and freetelephone coaching service is a great place tostart if you want to improve your health. It provides people with apersonal health coach for six months toguide them to achieve their health goals.
Figures show more than 55 per cent of people over 16 living in NSW areoverweight or obese because of overeating and underexercising.
Dr Rissel saidexercise doesn’t need to be intense to be good for you and activities likewalking to the shops or bus/train stop, gardening or even housework can improvefitness.
“Walking is asimple way to get active and reduce your risk of chronic disease. Moving yourbody in any way is better than doing nothing, even chores like mopping thefloor or mowing the lawn all help to burn kilojoules – if temperatures aren’ttoo high and there’s no smoke haze try to aim for 30 minutes a day on most daysof the week,” he said.
With about 60,200 hospitalisations and 6,850 deaths attributed to smokingannually, NSW Health is also encouraging smokers to quit smoking on January 1.
“Within a dayof stopping smoking, the carbon monoxide level in a smoker’s blood hasdecreased dramatically and in the first week their tastebuds come alive andsense of smell improves,” said Dr Rissel.
Smokers looking for support to quitcan call the Quitline on 13 78 48 or visit icanquit.com.au.
In 2019-20 the NSW Government is investing over $36 million towardsreducing the prevalence of overweight and obesity, and $17 million on tobaccocontrol including education campaigns, smoking cessation support, enforcementof smoke-free laws and targeted programs for vulnerable groups.
