exercise

Walking is an important mode of transport: not only is it free, it helps reduce environmental pollution and a great way to get some exercise. And walking to school helps set children up with good habits that can last a lifetime, says a spokesperson for Walk Safely to School Day.

Simple lifestyle changes can help us reduce some of the risk of developing cancer: but some preventive measures are better-known than others. Most Australians are now aware that not smoking and reducing their UV exposure can help, but they may not be aware of other messages around diet, exercise and alcohol consumption.

Changing parents’ and even teachers’ ideas of risk-taking behaviour can significantly increase children's physical activity, claims a Sydney Uni study.

More than two-thirds of Australians say they’re in excellent health: yet we have one of the highest rates of obesity among developed countries and 280 of us develop diabetes every day.

Australians with asthma need to gain a better understanding of the causes of their asthma attacks, says Asthma Australia's Dr Simon Bowler, who launched a new resource on asthma triggers at the recent Tackling Asthma conference in Canberra.

If older people want to retain their independence, it’s critical to be physically active, says CEC NSW Falls Prevention Program leader Lorraine Lovitt.

‘Staying physically active is the single most important thing we can do to stay fit and independent,’ says Lorraine.  

Adjusting from life as a professional athlete while wanting to stay fit and healthy required a bit of work for Susie O’Neill, one of Australia’s Olympic greats in the pool: and recognising that it can be tough to fit health into a busy lifestyle, she has just launched ‘Together Counts,’ a program aimed at improving Australians’ health.

A woman dies from a 10-litre a day cola habit; and clothing sports advertisements for Jim Beam bourbon, insidiously push its products, slams Sydney Uni experts. According to the researchers, these just some of the ‘extreme examples’ of big companies using the same tactics as tobacco companies to push products.