For the first time, the Lifestyle Health Section of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) is holding a training workshop focusing just on physical activity.

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Rosita Hoffmann
Rosi...@spc.int
SPC - Press Releases
pres...@lyris.spc.int
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Media Release

18 - 22 October 2004, Nadi, Fiji

The aim of this sub-regional workshop is to enhance the knowledge, practical skills and attitudes of health promoters to enable them to promote physical activity more effectively and in a safe way: an important strategy for Non Communicable Diseases - NCD prevention. The workshop includes participants from both the Health and Education sectors from the Cook Islands, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Fiji, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Palau, Samoa and Tonga.

Regionally we suffer from high rates of non communicable diseases - diabetes, obesity, heart disease and stroke are increasing and threatening the economies of countries. Lifestyle changes within the region are an important factor in the NCD problem. Poor diet choices, smoking, alcohol abuse and low physical activity levels all lead to a greatly increased risk of developing these health problems.

Physical activity is often ignored as an important lifestyle issue. Evidence is increasingly showing the dramatic effects that physical activity can have in improving health - preventing diabetes, preventing high blood pressure and much more. Across this region people are becoming more sedentary - we have cars and other machines which make our lives easier, and so we have to spend less time farming, walking or cleaning - all forms of physical activity.

Countries in the region need to increase their focus on helping their population to be more physically active. During this workshop, participants will explore cultural and environmental barriers to physical activity and will look at how different types of activity affect our bodies and health. They will also learn how to help people to be more physically active, and it is hoped that these participants can become part of the action for physical activity in their country.

This workshop is being organised by the SPC Lifestyle Health Section, with the support of Russell Consulting International.

The workshop is held at the Tanoa International Hotel, Nadi, Fiji.

Further information can be requested from the Lifestyle Health Section of SPC via email jima...@spc.int or wen...@spc.int or via the Tanoa International Hotel.