MDHB News

Public Health: Nutrition & Physical Activity

Public Health’s task in Nutrition and Physical Activity is to work collaboratively with other government agencies and community organisations to improve health and well being and to reduce the burden of disease through better nutrition and regular physical activity.

Eat lots of fruit and vegetables!

MidCentral Health’s Public Health Service works with other organisations and government agencies to help implement the Healthy Eating Healthy Action Plan and “Mission On” to improve nutrition and physical activity levels.

Key health messages are

Eat a variety of nutritious foods
Eat less fatty, salty, sugary foods
Eat more vegetables and fruits
Fully breastfeed infants for at least six months
Be active every day for at least 30 minutes in as many ways as possible
Add some vigorous exercise for extra benefit and fitness
Aim to maintain a healthy weight throughout life
Promote and foster the development of environments that support healthy lifestyles.

Initiatives have included

Fruit in Schools
Developing a nutrition and physical activity policy for MidCentral Health
Running a 10,000 steps@work programme across a number of workplaces.

Pedometer.

Further Information on Nutrition and Physical Activity

Ministry of Health Healthy Eating - Healthy Action
Mission-On is a broad-based package of initiatives to give young New Zealanders and their families the tools to improve their nutrition and increase physical activity. It is aimed at children and young people from birth to 24 years. For more details see SPARC

Other useful sites are:

National Heart Foundation
Health Sponsorship Council
SPARC and for local activity groups check out: Sport Manawatu

Disclaimer:

MidCentral District Health Board is not responsible for the contents or reliability of the linked websites and does not necessarily endorse the views expressed within them. Listing shall not be taken as endorsement of any kind. We cannot guarantee that these links will work all of the time and we have no control over availability of the linked pages. Links to external sites will open in a new window.