Get a head start on your New Year’s Resolutions: National 12 week ‘Swapping’ Challenge
With just 12 weeks to go until the New Year, Australians can be part of a unique national challenge and become a ‘Swapper’ – as part of the Swap It, Don’t Stop It campaign.
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9 October 2011
With just 12 weeks to go until the New Year, Australians can be part of a unique national challenge and become a ‘Swapper’ – as part of the Swap It, Don’t Stop It campaign.
A free online 12 week interactive planner to help Australians make changes towards a healthier lifestyle has been developed by the Australian National Preventive Health Agency. You can now join the challenge by going online or even using your iPhone.
“Twelve weeks will give you time to start making easy, healthier lifestyle choices that will help you get in good shape to start the 2012 New Year,” Minister Roxon said.
“By making the interactive planner available online, people have the tools and tips to make healthy choices – literally at their fingertips. The unique online planner and iPhone app enable people to take the ‘Swap It’ message, personalise it and then put it into action.”
Two well-known Australians who have already signed up to the challenge are Yumi Stynes from Network Ten’s 'The Circle' and Olympian Nicole Livingstone.
“Every New Year I make a resolution to become healthier, and treat myself and the planet better. Over the next 12 weeks, I’ll be making simple everyday changes towards a healthier lifestyle, without losing all the things I love,” Ms Stynes said.
Nicole Livingstone said: “I really support the approach of this campaign. It’s positive, and it shows people that by making small changes it adds up. I’ll be swapping ‘driving for walking’ when picking up the kids from school and looking for other simple ways to get active.”
The online 12 week interactive planner features tools to help you plan your food and activity swaps, including alerts, checklists and a progress report. The activity planner uses GPS technology to identify local facilities such as swimming pools, parks and sporting fields, and includes a shopping list that can be sent directly to your iPhone.
Professor Adrian Bauman, Director, Prevention Research Centre, University of Sydney encouraged all Australians to consider the 12 week challenge.
“The online 12 week interactive planner is a great tool to help people to plan and track their nutrition choices and physical activity,” Professor Bauman said.
“Not only is the challenge a kick-start to a healthier, more enjoyable life – participants will also be on their way to reducing their risk of chronic disease.”
In Australia, around 68 per cent of adult men and 55 per cent of adult women are overweight or obese. Obesity is the cause of almost one-quarter of type 2 diabetes and osteoarthritis, and around one-fifth of cardiovascular disease, as well as colorectal, breast, uterine and kidney cancer.
To begin your 12 week challenge, log on to the online 12 week interactive planner at www.australia.gov.au/swapit. The Swap It iPhone app can be downloaded from the iPhone App Store.
Australian National Preventive Health Agency: 0438 001 086 or 0417 362 768
For all media inquiries, please contact the Minister's Office on 02 6277 7220
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