14 October 2009

University Getting Healthy during Nutrition Week

As part of Nutrition Week, the Vice-Chancellor for the University of Wollongong will partner with South Eastern Sydney Illawarra Area Health Service today in the Get Healthy Illawarra campaign.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Gerard Sutton and Pro Vice-Chancellor (Health) Professor Don Iverson will sign on to the Get Healthy Campaign at the URAC (University Recreation and Aquatic Centre) at 11am.

“The University is proud to be part of the Get Healthy Illawarra campaign designed to improve the health of our community.

“We take our role as part of the Illawarra seriously and hope the University community can join the broader area in supporting this campaign,” Professor Sutton said.

Pro Vice-Chancellor (Health) Professor Iverson said Wollongong University was committed to advancing health education and research.

"One of our primary goals is to do what we can, to ensure discoveries in basic, clinical and community research is accessible to people living in the Illawarra, and especially those who work at the University.

"This partnership with the Area Health Service will give UOW employees access to telephone-based professional health counselling to support their individual efforts to improve lifestyle.

“Research indicates that even small lifestyle changes can have a profound effect on a person's overall health status and quality of life. We see these as important outcomes for our employees," Professor Iverson said.

NSW health data shows that obesity levels in the Illawarra are much higher than in the remainder of NSW. Many Illawarra residents also smoke and drink at risky levels and just under half of residents over 16 years aren’t getting enough physical activity.

SESIAHS Public Health Nutritionist Julie Parkinson said there are a number of simple steps people can take to promote healthy family nutrition.

“Eating a balanced diet with two serves of fruit and five serves of vegetables everyday will help to keep our bodies functioning well.

“Eating foods from the five food groups every day is very important while minimising additional foods such as cakes, biscuits, lollies, and chips,” Ms Parkinson said.

The five food groups include the following:

• Vegetables (include 5 serves a day).
• Fruit (include 2 serves a day).
• Bread, cereals, rice, pasta and noodles (include wholegrain varieties).
• Milk, yogurt, cheese (choose low fat dairy products).
• Meat, fish, poultry, eggs and nuts.