During lockdown, 35% Australians have gained weight and 21% are drinking more alcohol than they once did. * Prior to Covid, 60% of men and 66% of women already had a waist circumference that indicated a high risk of metabolic complications.
A growing body of evidence has identified obesity as a risk factor for more severe COVID-19 illness and death. The public health message is “Stay home, stay safe, and get vaccinated”. Instead, we should say “Stay home, stay safe, get vaccinated and get healthy”.
Source: www.racgp.org.au
35
have gained weight
21
are drinking more alcohol
66
already had a high risk of metabolic complications
Dr Georgia Rigas, Chair of The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners and Specific Interests Obesity Manager, says there is a growing body to evidence to suggest that people who are obese:
-
may exhibit greater viral shedding if they acquire COVID-19
-
who are younger than 60 and have acquired COVID-19 are at increased risk of requiring hospital admission.
-
who acquire COVID-19 have worse health outcomes, i.e., increased morbidity (requiring assisted ventilation etc) and increased mortality.
In addition, people with the highest body mass index (BMI) are more often seen in critical cases and non-survivors.
The workshop
Take charge of your health during Covid
Delivered through zoom
The workshop includes:
-
Why being in good health is important for physical, mental and Covid health. Good health is good insurance.
-
Inspiring stories of people who have turned their health around through diet and exercise.
-
What 3 things can YOU do to improve your diet?
-
Your core values and how good health enables you to live by them
-
Your current behaviours and how they influence your health
-
Make a commitment contract to yourself
To keep the audience engaged and actively participating in our workshops the ideal number of attendees is 12 per session.
Judy Davie is the founder of The Food Coach.
She is the author of 3 books, including The Food Coach, Read the Label, The Greengrocer’s Diet, and co-author of Star Foods (Dr Joanna McMillan and Judy Davie), and is the provider of the seasonal online Lighten Up Courses.
Over the years she has worked as a regular columnist on The Sunday Telegraph, produced healthy cooking videos, developed the city-based health program Lighten Up Wagga, and more recently she co-founded PA2health, a start-up digital health program delivered to drought and bushfire affected communities in Regional NSW.
She is a confident, engaging presenter who “walks the talk” and has spent 20 years committed to helping people understand that life is better when you eat well.
She is a regular presenter at the Elysia Health Retreat in the Hunter Valley and has delivered talks to several organisations including Statecover, Westpac, AMP, Mallesons, Dupont, Active Farmers, Dupont, to name just some.