IT’S estimated that more than a third of adults in Lake Macquarie are obese, and more than two thirds are not active enough.
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And that’s enough to prompt Lake Macquarie City Council to join the Heart Foundation on a mission to get the community moving.
That mission will be launched with a free spring walk from Blackalls Park to Fassifern railway station, on the Greenway track, on Tuesday, October 25.
It will be the start of a campaign encouraging locals to live more active, healthier lives by starting up walking groups.
Heart Foundation National CEO Professor John Kelly said Heart Foundation Walking was inviting locals to become volunteer walk organisers and to establish small groups of walkers in their local area.
“The role of the walk organiser is to choose a walking route and organise the times and meeting places for their group,” Professor Kelly said.
“Walk organisers are provided with free training together with a range of resources to start and maintain their group as well as free merchandise as a small thank you for their role.”
The latest Heart Foundation physical activity and cardiovascular disease report found that:
- Australian adults spent an average of 38.9 hours per week engaged in sedentary behaviour;
- Two-thirds of Australian adults engaged in four or more hours of sedentary behaviour daily; and
- Men remain the highest offenders at 41.5 hours, with women averaging 36.2 hours.
The Heart Foundation estimates that physical inactivity contributes to an estimated 14,000 deaths annually.
By engaging a Heart Foundation Walking group, the entire community can address this escalating trend and encourage Australians to move more and sit less.
“Most adults know the importance of being active, but busy lifestyles, safety concerns and a lack of motivation make it easy to put off being active,” Professor Kelly said.
“Heart Foundation Walking groups are perfect for people of all ages and fitness levels to engage in a simple and safe group activity with old and new friends.
“Most of all, these free walking groups are especially good for people who aren’t currently active and want to change that through social group motivation.”
To join a free walking group or start one of your own in your area, visit walking.heartfoundation.org.au/ or call 1300 362 787.
Registrations for the walk on Tuesday will be taken at 9.30am for a 10am start.
- Phone Peta at Lake Macquarie City Council on 4921 0430 to register.
