Physical activity
Jason Etheridge (JJ)
JJ was born in the Sydney Women's Hospital in 1972, and feels that having a combined background of Torres Strait Islander from his mother's side, and West Indian from his father's side, has given him a broader understanding of Indigenous lifestyles.
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The artwork displayed here is obtained from the Culcha Disc: Australian Indigenous Images Vol 1
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About this web resource
The need for better information and resources
Development of the Indigenous physical activity web resource recognises the importance of physical activity to many aspects of health, particularly cardiovascular disease. Recent research confirms that the health benefits of physical activity are much broader than thought previously. As well as being important in the prevention of cardiovascular disease, physical activity contributes to:
- prevention and control of diabetes;
- the primary prevention of some cancers - particularly colon and breast cancer;
- prevention of some injuries - particularly the prevention of falls, through its role in muscle strengthening and maintenance of bone density; and
- promotion of mental health - related mainly to reduction of symptoms of depression and anxiety.
All these health issues contribute to the relatively poor health status of Indigenous peoples, so an increase in physical activity among Indigenous people could play a major role in improving health status.
Content of the Indigenous physical activity web resource
New information and materials relevant to physical activity among Indigenous peoples are added to this web resource progressively, and in time it will be expanded to include: reviews and background information; policies and strategies; programs, projects and lessons; guidelines; health promotion resources; publications; and information about and links to relevant organisations and other agencies. It also provides links to related HealthInfoNet pages - including ones on cardiovascular disease (view CVD web resource), diabetes (view web pages) and nutrition (view web page) - and links to a new HealthInfoNet web resource about overweight and obesity among Indigenous peoples (view Indigenous overweight and obesity web resource).
Development of the web resource
Development of the Indigenous physical activity web resource is being undertaken by the Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet with the support of the National Heart Foundation of Australia (view website), which has generously provided initial funding to get the resource underway.
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