WA Adults - fat but active?

If you saw The West Australian earlier this week you would have seen a new study has shown that WA adults have increased their physical activity, but a lot more of us are still gaining weight. What does that say? Clearly even if we are being more active, many WA adults still don't have the skills for correct exercise and nutrition. 

The results came from the 2009 Physical Activity Taskforce Adult Survey and showed 60% of WA adults are active enough for good health, which is a four per cent increase in 10 years. During that time, there has been an increase in the prevalence of adult overweight and obesity levels from 44 per cent to 55 per cent.

Sport and Recreation Minister and chair of the Physical Activity Taskforce, Terry Waldron, says he was pleased by the increase in activity but concerned overweight and obesity was on the increase.

“We are very pleased that West Australians are listening to the physical activity message and are getting more active,” Terry says. “Physical activity has huge benefits for health and improves physical and mental wellbeing, quality of life, social interaction and life expectancy."

The rising rate of obesity though is a concern. “The increase in adult overweight and obesity levels is alarming, and is a reminder that increasing physical activity will only curb part of this problem," Terry admits.

Terry says healthy active lifestyles and healthy eating were equally important to stabilise the increasing numbers of adults above a healthy weight. I think any of our smart customers could have told him that!

Keep checking in to our blog in the coming weeks as we share a heap of great tips and ideas of how you can stay healthy through effective exercise and good nutrition. Let's bring that obesity number down!!