Get health and fitness news from around the world and in Aotearoa:
Drop in Pacific smoking rates
According to the latest census data from Statistics New Zealand, Pacific smoking prevalence rates in adults have dropped from 30.3% in 2006 to 23.2% in 2013. Pacific Health Manager and Tala Pasifika acting manager Louisa Ryan says, ‘We want to congratulate our Pacific community for choosing a healthier tomorrow. Ultimately it’s about creating a future for our children that’s free from tobacco harm. We encourage those who are still smoking to make a choice for life and make a New Year’s resolution to quit smoking in 2014,’ she says.
Happy 10th birthday Nike FREE!
April marks the 10 year anniversary of one of Nike’s most iconic releases – the Nike FREE. These popular barefoot running shoes have become a firm favourite amongst exercisers and there will be some hot new styles launching next month to mark the anniversary. Keep an eye out on our upcoming articles for a sneak peek!
Healthy eating guides for school food programmes released
Practical new guides for schools wishing to introduce food programmes have recently been released by Children’s Commisioner Dr Russell Wills. ‘We know that children struggle to learn when they are hungry, any teacher will tell you that. So an obvious part of any food programme is about meeting that immediate need,’ says Dr Wills. ‘We wanted to remove the hesitation some schools might feel about embarking on a project to introduce food at their school and feel confident about what steps to take.’ The guides are intended for all school principals, school management and Boards of Trustees and covers topics including understanding the needs of the school, practical ways to set up a school food programme, and promoting healthy eating within schools.
NZ bowel cancer rates among highest in the world
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has named and shamed New Zealand and Australia with the release of a report that shows the two countries have the highest estimated bowel cancer rates in the world. Beat Bowel Cancer Aotearoa (BBCA) CEO Megan Smith says, ‘The survival rate of New Zealanders with bowel cancer is just 55%. That is tragically low when you consider 75% of bowel cancer cases can be treated successfully if diagnosed early. This report should be a real eye-opener for New Zealanders. The WHO data backs up statistics issued by the Ministry of Health last year, and together they paint a grim picture for bowel cancer in New Zealand.’ Dr Smith says we need to become more familiar with the symptoms of bowel cancer and not be embarrassed to seek medical attention if any symptoms are present. Read more of the story here and learn the symptoms of bowel cancer.
Need a new goal? Blackmores XTERRA Auckland Train Run/Walk Series is back!
The Blackmores XTERRA Auckland Trail Run/Walk Series is on the horizon and a great excuse to get fit and have fun in some of Auckland’s most stunning surrounds! This fantastic series is about getting people of all ages and fitness levels out into the open air and onto the best trails in the best off-road locations. It offers seven events taking place from May 18 to September 21 in seven spectacular locations within one hours’ drive of Auckland City. All event info, registration and contact details can be found on the website www.trailrun.co.nz.
Image / FreeDigitalPhotos.net – graur razvan ionut