Council Encourages Griffith To 'Make Healthy Normal'

Small changes = big difference


Article heading image for Council Encourages Griffith To 'Make Healthy Normal'

Griffith City Council and Murrumbidgee Local Health District (MLHD) have joined forces to encourage residents to 'make healthy normal'.

More than half of the adults in NSW and more than 60 per cent in Murrumbidgee are overweight or obese, which has become 'normal'.

Make Healthy Normal is hoping to change that by working on the principle that small changes can make a big difference to our overall health. By gradually increasing healthy choices every day, we can be healthier, have an increased quality of life and a reduced risk of chronic disease.

Council’s Community Development Coordinator, Peta Dummett, is delighted to be working in collaboration with MLHD to encourage residents to make a change.

“Small changes to your lifestyle can make a big difference. Regular physical activity helps you maintain good health and manage your weight and it also makes you feel happier, which is good for your overall mental health,” Ms Dummett said.

As part of the Make Healthy Normal Campaign partnership, Ms Dummett and MLHD Health Promotion Coordinator Judy Callinan placed stickers around City Park last week.

These stickers can be found along the footpath at 200-metre intervals and will provide a visual of how many kilojoules you have burnt over the 1kms marked out.

Residents are encouraged to take the first step to make healthy normal. 

“As the weather starts to warm up I urge residents to get out and about and enjoy our parks and open spaces,” Ms Dummett said.

“Even if you start by simply getting up from your desk at lunchtime and walking around the block with a colleague, or take your lunch break outside.

“Why not ask your colleagues to have a ‘walk and talk’ meeting rather than sitting at a desk?

“It’s these first small step that will eventually make a big difference.”

Mayor John Dal Broi said he was happy Council could help spread the Make Health Normal Campaign message and encourages the community to use the website as a resource.

“The long-term benefits of a campaign like this will be far reaching for the health and wellbeing of our residents,” Cr Dal Broi said.

For more info on the campaign, exercise programs, healthy recipes, menu plans and more, you can check out www.makehealthynormal.nsw.gov.au

Amber Lowther

28 August 2018

Article by:

Amber Lowther




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