2010 planning is kicking off.

Community input is integral in the organisation, planning and running of the Activate NT - Healthy Lifestyle Challenges.

If you are interested in being on the Community Committees in Darwin or Palmerston and being involved in the planning for next years challenge please contact Lynn Lee on 8982 1032 or lynn.lee@gpnnt.org.au to find out when the next meetings will be scheduled.

Cancer prevention
It may surprise you to learn that at least one in three cancer cases are preventable and the number of cancer deaths could be reduced significantly by choosing to live a cancer smart healthy lifestyle.

More than 13,000 cancer deaths each year are due to smoking, sun exposure, poor diet, alcohol consumption, inadequate exercise or being overweight.

There are some simple steps you can take to minimise your cancer risk. Click on the following link to see the seven steps to reducing your risk: Cancer smart lifestyle fact sheets

Click read more below for information on early detection and screening programs.

The Activate NT program has now been underway for a few weeks, and you can no doubt see and feel the results of your efforts through regular exercise; including the “2 & 5” principle into your daily food intake, you might be feeling the benefits of consuming less alcohol; and you may have added years to your life if you have quit smoking.

Good intentions to change health-related habits are just wishful thinking if you don’t have goals to keep you focused on the journey ahead. Some SMART goal setting will help you on your way again. Click read more below.

Increasing physical activity has protective health benefits. Being physically active for at least 30-60 minutes every day helps achieve or maintain a healthy weight, lowers blood pressure, raises good cholesterol in your blood, helps prevent type 2 diabetes, stroke and heart disease, reduces stress, depression and other mental illness, strengthens your bones, delays onset of dementia and is associated with a reduced risk of cancer!

To read about moving more and staying motivated click read more below.

A healthy mind, as well as a healthy body, are equally important in living a long and happy life. Depression and dementia are two of the most common conditions that affect the health of our minds. Read on for more information.