S.H.O.C. 2012

Southern Highlands Obesity Challenge

Sky Hunt of Sky’s Personal Fitness, and other allied health professionals will introduce a creative way of tackling the problems of obesity, diabetes and heart disease in the Southern Highlands. It’s called S.H.O.C. ‘Southern Highlands Obesity Challenge’. The challenge is for local residents to collectively lose 2 tonnes in weight in 2 months.

The aim of S.H.O.C. is to develop a lifestyle model around promoting healthy nutritional choices and increasing physical activity, focusing in the first instance on the overweight people in the community.

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) estimates that there are 7.5 million adult Australians who are either overweight or obese. About 3.7 million Australians or 19.4 per cent of the population report a current cardiovascular condition. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) kills more people than any other disease, accounting for 39 per cent of all deaths in 2000, and taking up the largest share of health expenditure (Australia’s Health 2004, AIHW).

While many factors may influence an individual’s weight, overweight and obesity is due mainly to an imbalance of energy intake from the diet and energy expenditure through physical activity. Genetic and environmental factors play a role, but attention to diet and physical activity is important not only for preventing weight gain, but also for weight loss and subsequent maintenance.

S.H.O.C. will begin mid January, 2012. Sky is hoping more than 500 people will register at the official weigh in.  A S.H.O.C. kit will be available at weigh-in which is a step by step guide for success on how to achieve this challenge.

S.H.O.C. was inspired by the success of the 2004 WellingTONNE Challenge, in Wellington, a small town in mid western New South Wales. Participants had not only achieved the official target by losing a tonne but had changed their lifestyle enough to keep it off. Weight loss was only one benefit for the people of Wellington. The Wellington Health Service reports that people are now eating better and have become more physically active and feeling healthier and happier; there are better food choices available and there has been a great sense of community engendered by the project.

Sky is looking for local support through sport and recreation providers to offer special deals to encourage people to take part in physical activities including gyms and golf clubs. Local food businesses can get into the spirit by offering less fatty and sugary alternatives at special prices. Hotels and clubs can serve up counter meals offering grills with salad instead of schnitzel and chips.

This is a fundraising event.  All funds raised will be going to a local charity (TBC) which supports health and wellbeing.

Obesity is a major problem is Australia and other developed countries and people need to find ways to lose and maintain their weight to avoid serious health problems. S.H.O.C. is a great example of how a community can help itself to better health. 

For further information please contact Sky Hunt, Sky’s Personal Fitness, on (02) 4862 1928 or support@skyhunt.com.au