IMPROVING the
health of locals from the inside out is the goal of a new east Auckland
health programme.
The Healthy
Eating Active Lifestyles (HEAL) programme, which is run by East Health
Trust, is tailored for people over 18 with health conditions such
as obesity, high blood pressure, depression and diabetes.
“We want to
improve people’s overall health and well-being and make improvements to
things that affect those conditions,” says HEAL programme coordinator Lisa
Jury.
“It’s not just
to get people more active; it’s more of a holistic approach.
“They manage
their diabetes better, they eat better and have a more active lifestyle.”
People enrolled
in the course receive a face-to-face health assessment, which looks at
factors such as their height, weight, girth measurement and blood pressure.
Lifestyle factors
are also taken into account, including the frequency of exercise, alcohol
consumption, smoking and drug-use.
“There’s a lot
of work in this, setting up all the classes and referrals,” says Ms Jury.
“It takes a
bit more time, but it’s important.”
Participants
qualify for subsidised exercise classes, such as tai chi, general aerobics
and walking clubs.
Their progress
is checked at the three-month and six-month marks, after which they either
graduate or may receive another referral from their GP.
“They may be
ready to move on to the next level,” says Ms Jury. “You have to have them
exit the programme at some point.”
Education is
a key aspect of the course.
“I’d like a
community that’s more knowledgeable about issues that affect them. This
is kind of a self-management programme.”
Over-65s and
those at risk of a fall are also eligible for a referral to the programme
through their East Health Trust GP.
While the scheme
is currently restricted to over-18s, Ms Jury plans to broaden it in the
future.
“We do want
to include children and teenagers but that will come at a later date,”
she says.
“We’ll get this
part off the ground first.”
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