When Warwick was named Queensland’s fattest city in a national health report card issued earlier this year, local hospital staff members decided it was time to take the lead in the battle of the bulge.
The Healthy Hanlon 10-Week Challenge was created, with 18 staff members from Warwick Hospital’s Hanlon Ward committing to making healthy eating choices – with the winner determined by the most weight lost as a percentage.
Hanlon Ward registered nurse Amelia Simpkins said the challenge was focused on supporting each other to make better food choices.
“As health workers we are role models in the community, but as shift workers sometimes we don’t make the best food choices,” Ms Simpkins said.
“The focus is on making healthy choices as part of a long-term, sustainable lifestyle change rather than following food fads which can lead to yo-yo dieting.
“Our nurse unit manager Robyn Cameron has been a fantastic advocate and support for this challenge, organising resources for participants including weekly lunchbox meetings with Warwick Health Services dietician Paul Jones, offering healthy eating support, advice and education on things like reading food labels.
“We have also set up a private Facebook group where we can celebrate our progress and share recipes, tips and encouragement throughout the challenge.
“The Hanlon Ward tradition of Cake Friday has now become Fruit Friday and it is these little changes that can help to make a big difference.”
The Healthy Hanlon 10-Week Challenge started on 9 February and finishes on 20 April.
Recent statistics from Australia’s Health Tracker showed that 74 per cent of Warwick residents were overweight or obese.
The 2016 Health of Queensland Chief Health Officer report shows that 64 per cent of adults and 26 per cent of children in Queensland were overweight or obese by measurement in 2014/15.
The report states that rates of obesity in the population have been increasing for decades and are recognised as a major public health issue.
