Sunshine Coast innovative healthy ageing forum a success

Sunshine Coast Council and University of the Sunshine Coast (USC) partnered to deliver a successful Healthy Ageing Forum - 'Getting Old is not a Disease' - on 20th February.

Sunshine Coast residents gathered at the forum to hear from a range of health experts about the latest chronic disease research and lifestyle recommendations.

Special guests were from Sunshine Coast University Hospital and USC, and stallholders included BreastScreen Queensland, CWA Country Kitchens, Healthy Sunshine Coast, Cancer Council Queensland, Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service’s Health Promotion staff, My Health for Life Stroke Foundation, parkrun Australia, Exercise Right for Better Ageing, Volunteering Sunshine Coast and Cycling without Age Australia (Sunshine Coast Chapter).

Keynote speaker at the Forum, Dr Sam Manger, President of the Australasian Society of Lifestyle Medicine advised that as the year’s tick over and we all grow older the secret to a healthy long life is a daily dose of lifestyle medicine made up of a balanced diet, exercise, a good social life and reconnecting with nature.

Dr Manger said the free forum was designed for people over the age of 50 and noted “Chronic disease is now a major burden in Australia and affects 85% of the population.

“The majority of Australians are overweight, more will have diabetes or pre-diabetes and a huge amount are depressed or sad.

“If we don’t change direction we may end up where we’re headed. This is not about lifestyle instead of medicine, it’s lifestyle as medicine.”

Associate Professor Chris Askew, leader of Healthy Ageing Research at the Sunshine Coast Health Institute and a member of the Clinical Exercise Physiology team at USC added “the forum was a great opportunity for participants to learn about chronic disease prevention and management, including tips and advice about exercise, diet and reducing stress.”

Sunshine Coast Council Community Portfolio Councillor David Law said the forum was attended by people keen to take charge of their health.

“It was great to see such a strong turnout of about 150 people,” Councillor Law said.

“A key focus of our Sunshine Coast Community Strategy 2019-2041 is to empower our community to live healthy and active lifestyles.”

Other presenters included Sunshine Coast University Hospital Professor of Cardiology Kim Greaves, Professor of Hepatology James O’Beirne, USC Associate Professor of Psychology Mathew Summers, USC Professor of Sport Sciences David Jenkins, and Dr Anthony Villani (Nutrition and Dietetics), while USC Vice-Chancellor Professor Helen Bartlett provided the opening address.

Dr Manger’s top tips*:

• Exercise 30 minutes a day

• Eat a healthy diet (explore the benefits of fasting and the Mediterranean diet)

• Get outside in the garden or go for a walk; a huge benefit occurs to people’s social, mental and physical health with nature exposure 

*Please see your GP for individual advice

FAST FACTS

Coronary heart disease is the single leading cause of death in Australia (killing one person every 12 minutes), followed by dementia. Dementia is the leading cause of death for women (ABS)

Image above: Sunshine Coast Healthy Ageing forum Dr Sam Manger courtesy sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au/