Kimberley Active Project (2007-2008)
Investigators
- Alexandra McManus
Aim:
To encourage indigenous Australians living in the Kimberley to be more physically active.
Abstract:
Lack of physical activity is a major cause leading to an epidemic of overweight and obesity in contemporary life, with more than half of Australians now considered overweight or obese. In Western Australia, physical inactivity is one of the most important risk factors for ill health, accounting for 7% of the total burden of injury and disease.��
Physical inactivity is a high risk factor for:
- coronary heart disease
- stroke
- diabetes (non-insulin dependent)
- colon cancer
- breast cancer
- depression
Furthermore:
- 39% of Western Australian adults are either overweight (29%) or obese (10%).
- More adults in regional Western Australia (38%) are overweight compared to Perth (28%).
- Heart disease and stroke are responsible for 40% of all deaths.
- More males (36%) than females (22%) are overweight.
The campaign will target both young people and adults in a two pronged approach that allows specific messaging to be effectively developed and delivered within the two different groups of youth and adults.��