Overweight and obesity Archives

09 April 2024

We’re seeking your feedback

SWSPHN is considering creating a toolkit with information about free local exercise and weight management programs, weight management apps, online education and resources, and support to quit smoking and, alcohol and other drug use.

While patients may be advised to lose weight, or to exercise more, perhaps as recommendations of the 40-to-49 or 45-to-49 health assessments, many may not be able to afford to see a dietitian or pay for a gym membership, or they may be unsure of where to start or what options are available to them.

We’d like to hear from GPs and practice nurses about whether this resource would be helpful to your patients.

If a toolkit is of interest, please respond to alyssa.horgan@swsphn.com.au with answers to:

would this toolkit be useful?
what would you like to see in this toolkit?
what would be the best format for the toolkit? (ie HealthPathways, hard copy, PHN website etc)
are there other recommendations you make to patients following the 40-to-49 and 45-to-49 health checks which could be included in this guide?
any other feedback

20 March 2024

A new eight-session program for women in Bankstown who are under 40 and have weight issues, will begin at Bankstown Diabetes Centre on Thursday, 16 May, from 9.30am to 11.30am.

In the Metabolic Transformation Through Action (META) group, young women will have expert help from a clinical psychologist and dietitian in navigating the barriers to change.

They will learn about weight stigma, sustainable lifestyle change, goal setting, relapse prevention.

Find out more:

Information for health professionals

Information for patients

24 January 2024

The Go4Fun healthy lifestyle program for families and children aged seven to 13 is returning with sessions across South Western Sydney in Term 1, from Monday, 29 January 2024.

Locations include:

Cabramatta Community Centre
Bankstown PCYC
Moss Vale Aquatic Centre
Eagle Vale Leisure Centre
Michael Clarke Recreation Centre
Mt Annan Leisure Centre

You can register by phoning 1800 780 900 or visiting go4fun.com.au.

What is Go4Fun?

Go4Fun is a free program for children aged seven to 13 who are above a healthy weight, and their families. Trained health and community professionals like dietitians and exercise physiologists run the program which is a fun way to build self-esteem and learn about eating well, staying active and living a healthy life.

Go4Fun takes place during school terms, usually after school. Sessions run once a week for two hours, during a 10-week period. A parent or carer must come to every session.

Find out more about what's involved

Aboriginal Go4Fun

Aboriginal Go4Fun was developed in partnership with Aboriginal communities and is delivered by local Aboriginal organisations together with NSW Health. The program encourages the whole community to join in.

Aboriginal Go4Fun includes:

Aboriginal support staff
Traditional Indigenous games
Tailored resources

Find out more about Aboriginal Go4Fun

Go4Fun online

Go4Fun Online is perfect for families that can’t make it to our face-to-face program, but still want to make health changes to their lifestyle.

Go4Fun Online runs over 10 weeks and includes:

Weekly online activity sessions
Weekly phone coaching with a health professional
Resources and prizes
Our online community where you can chat to other families in the program
Email and text message support

Find out more about Go4Fun online

11 January 2024

The second in Sydney South West GP Link’s Learning and Dinner series focused on obesity.

The event held recently at Rydges Campbelltown, included a presentation by local endocrinologist Dr Raymond Kodsi, on updates of current trends and advances in obesity management.

Find out more

13 November 2023

A team from SWSPHN was excited to attend the Greater Western Sydney Future Health Forum 2023 recently, with our CEO, Dr Keith McDonald PhD, invited to lend his experience and expertise to a panel session, Unlocking the Care Economy.

It was a welcome opportunity to work with others from across Western Sydney to focus on regional solutions to issues around health service provision, community engagement, innovative partnerships, city-shaping, skills pipeline, digital and transport access.

The forum brought together participants, including Health Minister Ryan Park who headlined the forum, and more than 250 leading academics, researchers, local business leaders, sports professionals, and key community stakeholders from local councils and local health districts.

The Western Sydney Leadership Dialogue organised the forum which heard calls for the NSW Government to ban junk food advertising on all public transport to address the region’s worsening obesity and diabetes crisis.

Dialogue CEO, Adam Leto, said research, data and overseas success stories showed there were numerous low-cost initiatives which could dramatically improve health outcomes for our region’s residents.

“We can improve the health and well-being of tens-of-thousands of Western Sydney residents by taking these small steps that will have such a big impact on local communities,” he said.

“There are many communities across Greater Western Sydney which have a higher proportion of overweight residents, while the region is a recognised diabetes hotspot.

“This is an opportunity for local health professionals, all layers of government and local community leaders to work together and tackle these critical health issues with internationally successful programs.”

For forum outcomes – Small Steps to Tackle Big Health Crisis in GWS | Western Sydney Leadership Dialogue

29 June 2023

SWSPHN is funding a children’s health program aimed at educating and empowering children in South Western Sydney to make better food and sleep choices.

Schools in the region are invited to submit expressions of interest to access a full scholarship with The Root Cause Children’s Health Program (CHP) for 12 months, starting in term four this year.

Applications must be lodged by Friday, 18 August.

The Root Cause is a partnership where entire primary school communities are educated and encouraged to learn and build a positive relationship with food and sleep. Through the program, parents, teachers and children learn about healthy eating and waste.

Five South Western Sydney schools will have an opportunity to participate in the program, which incorporates in-person workshops for students, parents and staff, plus a range of classroom resources, professional development, and an online portal for families to use from home.

Research shows the amount and quality of food eaten by a child has a direct impact on health and well-being, learning, behaviour, resilience and academic results.

This is the first time SWSPHN has linked up with CHP.

During the last decade, The Root Cause has educated more than 59,000 children, parents and teachers from almost 260 schools across Australia.

Apply now

02 May 2023

The new Healthy Eating Activity and Lifestyle (HEAL) case conferencing program has been developed for practices in South Western Sydney to offer patients at risk of developing metabolic syndrome.

Practices will be paid $500 for participating in the program.

What to expect

Participating practices will recruit 10 patients to take part in an eight-week group education, exercise and lifestyle program followed by two follow-up sessions at five months and 12 months.

Each week patients will participate in one-hour of group based physical activity and one hour of group based healthy lifestyle education.

Patients will also attend a case conference with the GP, exercise physiologist and dietician at commencement, and six months after completing the program.

HEAL is a free program and patients will be given a $50 participation gift voucher after completing the program.

EOI closes Friday, 2 June 2023

Practices in South Western Sydney are invited to submit an EOI to part in a new HEAL program.

Complete the EOI form below by 5pm Friday, 2 June 2023.

Express your interest

For more information, please contact program advisor Alyssa Horgan Alyssa.Horgan@swsphn.com.au

02 March 2023

GPs can refer South Western Sydney families to the Growing Healthy Kids Service, SWSPHN and South Western Sydney Local Health District partnership which aims to reduce overweight and obesity in children aged two to 17 years.

Through the service, psychologists, dietitians, exercise physiologists, paediatricians, paediatric endocrinologists and social workers, work with the child’s family on a multidisciplinary approach to weight management.

The program offers four to six months of appointments designed around the child’s needs and goals.

Families are offered one of three inter-related pathways:

An intensive weight management program (six individual and three group sessions), including parent/ child education sessions and multi-disciplinary clinic appointment sessions, and medical assessment.
A dietitian only service (three clinic appointments and three group sessions), including parent/ child education sessions and a lifestyle assessment.
An additional endocrinology service is available for those children identified during medical assessment by the GHK paediatrician.

Visit the Growing Health Kids website for:

Referral criteria
Referral form

30 January 2023

The Wollondilly Diabetes Program (WOP) Lifestyle Plus is a free program available to people who live in the Wollondilly Shire and are at high risk of diabetes.

The program is designed to help community members create a healthy lifestyle and decrease their risk of developing diabetes.

Participants have access to a digital platform where they are given one-to-one support and coaching to help them achieve their goals.

Download the flyer to find out more

14 December 2022

The Go4Fun healthy lifestyle program for families and children aged seven to 13 is returning at seven locations across South Western Sydney in Term 1, from Monday, 30 January 2023.