![\"\"](\"http:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/20140214welmajoubert.jpg\" "\\"20140214")
<\/a>February 14, 2014<\/strong><\/p>\n The Darling Downs Hospital and Health Service says next week is the perfect time for South Burnett residents to think about developing healthy eating habits and maintaining a healthy weight.<\/p>\n Australia\u2019s Healthy Weight Week will be held from February 17\u201324 across the country.<\/p>\n DDHHS director of nutrition and dietetics Welma Joubert said AHWW was about raising awareness of the importance of achieving and maintaining a healthy weight and healthy lifestyle in order to lessen the impact of overweight and obesity on Australians.<\/p>\n \u201cOverweight and obesity affects almost 63 per cent of Australian adults and 25 per cent of Australian kids,\u201d Ms Joubert said.<\/p>\n \u201cThe latest statistics show 37 per cent of 25 to 50-year-old women and men are overweight and 27 per cent are obese.<\/p>\n \u201cGaining weight can increase your risk of health problems, like type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease.<\/p>\n \u201cPeople with most of their body fat around their waist, are at an increased risk.\u201d<\/p>\n Ms Joubert said the focus of the AHWW 2014 campaign was to encourage Australian adults aged 25\u201350 years old to achieve and maintain a healthy weight through healthy home cooking and choosing the right portions.<\/p>\n \u201cLosing weight is about so much more than just looking better. When you get your weight down, you also lower the risk of heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure.<\/p>\n \u201cWe want to encourage people to develop healthy diet-free habits that last a lifetime,\u201d Ms Joubert said.<\/p>\n Plan – <\/strong>Plan your menu for the week, make a shopping list and stick to it. Encourage the family to\u00a0get involved and remember that it\u2019s harder to eat junk food if it\u2019s not in the house. Extra tip …\u00a0don\u2019t shop on an empty stomach.<\/p>\n Swap –<\/strong>\u00a0Choose low-fat, salt-reduced, high-fibre versions of the foods you love. For example,\u00a0swap full-fat yoghurt and choose a reduced-fat variety. Buy salt-reduced sauces, stocks, soups\u00a0and tinned tomatoes. Choose whole grain varieties of breads and breakfast cereals.<\/p>\n Simplify –\u00a0<\/strong>Healthy cooking is not hard. Focus on fresh, seasonal produce and the quarter,\u00a0quarter, half rule. One quarter of a plate of low GI carbohydrates, another quarter of lean protein\u00a0and half a plate of vegetables in a rainbow of colours.<\/p>\n Stay active –<\/strong>\u00a0Move more. Aim for being active for at least 30-60 minutes every day, enjoying a\u00a0wide variety of physical activities included throughout the day \u2013 like walking to work or school,\u00a0taking the stairs instead of the lift, spending less time sitting, for example, watching television or\u00a0at the computer.<\/p>\n* * *<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Tips For Weight Management<\/strong><\/h3>\n