Minister’s lifestyle prescription

Australians are on a worrying trajectory towards ill-health and not active enough, the Minister for Health and Ageing, Senator Kay Patterson, said today while unveiling plans for national Walk to Work Day (October 3).

“Physical inactivity plus rapidly rising rates of overweight and obesity are a formula for national ill-health,” Senator Patterson said.

She called on all people in the workforce to participate in national Walk to Work Day on Friday October 3 – which will involve the Prime Minister and will have the support of every State and Territory leader.

An initiative of the Pedestrian Council of Australia, the annual Walk to Work Day started in 1999. The Council is urging every Australian to become a Walking Class Hero and include a walk in their daily routine so they can achieve better health, cleaner air, less traffic and improved transport.

“Thirty minutes of moderate physical activity each day is all it would take for Australians to live longer, improve their physical and mental health, reduce chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, some cancers, osteoarthritis and osteoporosis,” Senator Patterson said.

“The 30 minutes needn’t be continuous. Just three 10-minute bouts a day is the minimum prescription for a health benefit. So, walk to the bus stop in the morning for 10 minutes, take a 10 minute walk round the block at lunchtime, and another 10 minute walk in the afternoon.

“Another way to look at this lifestyle prescription is to accumulate 10,000 steps each day. You can do this by including a daily 30 minute walk on top of any walking you may have done at work or at home,” Senator Patterson said. “A great day to start walking is on Friday 3 October – Walk to Work Day.”