NLIS 3
May 16, 2002
(Tourism, Culture and Recreation)
(Health and Community Services)
(Education)

 

Government contributes $75,000 to strategy to get people active

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador has announced funding of $75,000 to encourage the people of this province to be more active. Three departments - Tourism, Culture and Recreation, Health and Community Services, and Education - are each contributing $25,000 to support the province�s physical activity strategy, Regaining Our Health.

This strategy has a detailed action plan which aims to decrease physical inactivity by 10 per cent by 2003. Currently, 67 per cent of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians are not active enough to achieve health benefits. People who are inactive have higher incidences of heart disease, obesity, high blood pressure, certain types of cancer and Type II diabetes. They tend to miss more days at work or school and are less productive.

"This money will go a long way to help implement the Regaining Our Health strategy," said Julie Bettney, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation. "The Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Advisory Committee will give greater emphasis to ensuring that people have the opportunities, knowledge and skills needed to be physically active. The committee has adopted a three-part strategy designed to provide the support and information Newfoundlanders and Labradorians need to live active and healthier lives."

The Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Advisory Committee is a coalition of 17 representatives from the fields of sport, recreation, health and education who support the initiative to decrease physical inactivity. Regaining Our Health will help people find the time for activity, motivate them to change their activity patterns and educate them on the importance of activity. It will also provide a range of cost-effective activity opportunities, ensure safe places for activity and promote active living as a key part of a healthy active lifestyle. Although this plan targets all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, it has identified children and youth, women, and low-income communities as groups which are most inactive. These groups need close attention to change their attitudes, behaviours and lifestyles to become more active.

Gerald Smith, Minister of Health and Community Services, said physical inactivity is the single most modifiable health risk behaviour. "A simple change in lifestyle behaviour, such as becoming more active, can have a tremendous effect on an individual�s health," said Minister Smith. "Improving one�s level of activity, together with adopting other healthy behaviours, can significantly reduce the risk for chronic disease and create a healthier population."

"Our new physical education curriculum encourages students to adopt a more active lifestyle. In addition, we must encourage our children and youth to participate, on a regular basis, in extra curricular activities and physically active play, such as riding a bike or shooting hoops," said Judy Foote, Minister of Education. "Adopting healthy eating habits and an energetic lifestyle at an early age, and understanding the benefits of this to our health, will make for healthy, active adults."

"I encourage all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians to make the commitment to become more active," said Minister Bettney. "We have to remember that our bodies were meant to move just like we have to eat and breathe to live. The benefits of healthy living are tremendous. Not only does activity add years to our lives, it helps us feel better about ourselves, prevent diseases and increases our productivity."

Media contact:

Carmel Turpin, Tourism, Culture and Recreation, (709) 729-0928
Diane Keough, Health and Community Services, (709) 729-1377
Catherina Kennedy, Education, (709) 729-0048

2002 05 16                              4:05 p.m.


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