A health program is making the community aware in Blacktown, NSW about the risk of convenient but unhealthy food which can contribute to a wide range of chronic diseases such as as Type 2 diabetes, stroke, heart disease, cancers and obesity.
Blacktown Library has supported the Healthy Eating and Physical Activity Program (HEPA) of Western Sydney Health District. One of such information sessions was held for six Fridays starting from 13 September to 25 October 2019. This has been a yearly activity of the library which was liaised with the Outreach Community Officer, Ms. Melissa Angelo.
The program has been organised and conducted by community leader and bilingual community educator Dr. Julie Chio Nunez.
Also co-sponsor of the program is the Philippine Health Care Association of Australia-Philippine Nurses Association (PHCAA-PNA).
The program helps to encourage the participants to make healthy food choices which will improve their long term health as well as to show them the benefits of healthy eating and physical activity.
It points to them the need of eating a variety of food belonging to the five food groups included in the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating and to avoid discretionary foods high in salt, sugar, fats and energy.
This program also encourages the participants to adapt new healthy habits such as eating five serves of vegetables and two serves of fruits daily and to provide them with the knowledge to change their eating practices to ensure good health for the entire family. It makes them think of the value of eating a balanced diet and exercising regularly to maintain good health and to develop a healthy lifestyle to promote their fitness and well-being.