There is significant documented evidence[1] that our region has a higher rate of overweight, obesity and disease incidence compared to the rest of South Australian (SA) country areas. Country Health SA (CHSA), Yorke & Lower North Health Services (YLNHS) and the Yorke Peninsula Division of General Practice (YPDGP) have formed a partnership, receiving joint funding through the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing, Preventative Health Initiative in the Rural Primary Health Services Program, to address this issue and prevent chronic diseases in the proposed area.
This 3 year project will run from 1st of July 2010 until 30th of June 2013 and aims to reduce overweight and obesity in the central and southern Yorke Peninsula, with a focus on smaller, more isolated communities and also the Aboriginal population. The target age group for the project is primarily those aged 18-65 years however is expected to indirectly benefit younger and older community members.
The project has a strong focus on community capacity building which means supporting the community by providing knowledge, skills and resources suited to their needs, so that positive changes will stay with the community beyond the 3 year project. This may include training, raising awareness of the importance of healthy lifestyle for disease prevention, working with local businesses to increase the availability of healthy food choices for takeaways and eating out, and improving opportunities for physical activity. There are also plans for community healthy lifestyle challenges in at least 4 communities. The project will include evaluation to assess the indicators for change and the effectiveness of the interventions.
The steering committee, reference group and other community members and stakeholders identified along the way will be the key drivers in the project’s planning, implementation and evaluation.
For more information please contact:
Jenny Francis or Jane Ford, Live It and Love It Project Officer at YPDGP
on 88 214 066
Effie Skoumbros, Live It and Love It Dietitian at YLNHS
on 88 230 287
[1] PHIDU Report (March 2007), YPDGP GP clinical databases, Country Health SA Community Consultation through their RHS program.