Tag: cancer

Camp Quality Christmas Fundraiser

Camp Quality Christmas Fundraiser

Help Me Help Some Kids

christmas kidsSome days, life can get pretty hectic and stressful, especially at this time of year! Often, the simplest way to get out of that state of overwhelm is to do something nice for someone else.

Please help me to support Camp Quality this Christmas by donating $10 via my Everyday Hero fundraiser page.

Your generosity will be truly appreciated.

 

https://give.everydayhero.com/au/5minfit-kidschristmas

About Camp Quality

Camp Quality’s purpose is to create a better life for every child living with cancer in Australia.

The services they provide for children (0-13 years) living with cancer and their families help create a better life by building optimism and resilience throughout each stage of their cancer journey.

Right from diagnosis, throughout treatment and in remission or bereavement, their programs support the whole family; at hospital, at home, back at school and away from it all.

This means they support the mums, dads and siblings of kids with cancer too; research shows that cancer has a huge impact on them and they often feel neglected by support that focuses solely on the child with cancer. This makes Camp Quality’s inclusion of these family members across the programs unique, essential and urgent - so they can quickly form a solid support network around their brother / sister or son / daughter with cancer.

https://give.everydayhero.com/au/5minfit-kidschristmas

camp quality

My Story

I spend my time helping people to be in the best possible health and fitness for them. Having an auto immune illness means I have some lifestyle limitations. However, it also allows greater perspective. I'm grateful for the ability to choose my level of health and fitness. Some don't have that choice.

I’ve experienced what it’s like to sit beside a hospital bed in a cancer ward as a 20-something loved one endured rounds of chemo and multiple surgeries. Staying awake all night while he dealt with the pain of drug reactions, and rushing to the emergency department late at night due to complications from surgery…it’s heartbreaking. I can’t begin to imagine what it’s like for a child to experience.

My hope is to bring some support and joy to kids who aren't afforded the luxury of choice when it comes to their health.

https://give.everydayhero.com/au/5minfit-kidschristmas

christmas bowBe Rewarded for Your Contribution

To show my appreciation of your contribution, I will provide my services to the value of whatever money is raised to one random person who donates. (Make sure to select to notify me of your contact details when you contribute.)

Your $10 donation can make a difference!

Thank you for supporting my Camp Quality fundraiser and helping me help the kids and their families this Christmas!
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everyday hero

Featured image from Babyology

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The real cost of obesity

The real cost of obesity

Overweight and obesity in Australia is reaching epidemic proportions.

We are now one of the fattest nations in the developed world with the prevalence of obesity more than doubling in the last 20 years.[1]

The most recent statistics from Obesity Australia indicate that 63 per cent of our country is overweight or obese, with 28 per cent obese. According to their 2014 report, No Time to Weight, obesity is a major health and societal factor for the Australian population. [2]

Unfortunately, things are likely to get worse with projections seeing around 70% of Australians being overweight or obese, by 2025, with around a third of the Australian adult population falling into the obese category.

apple with stethoscope and measuring tape

Personal cost

It is well documented that carrying too much weight is dangerous for your health. While obesity is not a disease, it does contribute to the development of other diseases. [3]

Health problems and consequences of being overweight include:

  • cardiovascular disease such as hypertension (high blood pressure)
  • coronary artery disease and stroke
  • obstructive sleep apnoea
  • insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes
  • non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
  • cancer
  • osteoarthritis
  • cognitive impairment
  • mood and anxiety disorders, including depression, negative body image and poor self-esteem.

If the thought of developing the above diseases isn’t enough to shock you, what about dying early?

Obesity Australia states that 40-year old obese women who don’t smoke will lose around 7.1 years of life, while obese male non-smokers will die 5.8 years earlier than expected. This is compared with their normal weight counterparts. [4]

sliced vegetables

The financial cost

As well as costing people years and quality of life, obesity is costing our country billions every year.

Estimating the financial cost of obesity is complicated. However, 2008 figures from Obesity Australia puts Australia’s total obesity cost at $58.2 billion per year. [5]

Costs relating to obesity include loss of productivity, carer’s costs, health system costs, and wellbeing. The total financial and lost wellbeing costs broken down by obesity-related diseases are as follows:

Cardiovascular disease

  • Financial cost $2.8 billion
  • Lost wellbeing $31.8 billion
  • TOTAL $34.6 billion

Cancer                                       

  • Financial cost $695 million
  • Lost wellbeing $9.0 billion
  • TOTAL $9.7 billion

Type 2 Diabetes                    

  • Financial cost $3.0 billion
  • Lost wellbeing $5.3
  • TOTAL $8.3 billion

Osteoarthritis                        

  • Financial cost$1.8 billion
  • Lost wellbeing $3.8 billion
  • TOTAL $5.7 billion

That’s an awful lot of money to spend on disease!

The future

There is no doubt Australia is at a crossroads.

If the rate of obesity continues to grow at the projected rate, it’s fair to say the financial and wellbeing costs will also grow — to overwhelming proportions.

However, by taking steps to lose the excess fat, improve health and wellbeing, we as a nation can turn the statistics around. Not only can we save billions of dollars, we can improve our quality of life, and our life expectancy.

If you feel you need to take control of your weight and health, speak to your health care practitioners and consider joining your local fitness studio and/or take some personal training sessions.

baby pasta face hand in mouth

References

[1] Modi, Monash University, Obesity in Australia, last updated 6 August 2013; accessed 24 June 2015 http://www.modi.monash.edu.au/obesity-facts-figures/obesity-in-australia/

[2] Obesity Australia, No Time to Weight. Obesity: A National Epidemic and Its Impact on Australia, published 27 March 2014; accessed 23 June 2015, http://www.obesityaustralia.org/resources-1/no-time-to-weight

[3] Ibid pp18-19

[4] Ibid p 20

[5] Ibid pp26-27