The Central Australia Health Service is encouraging everyone to eat less unhealthy sugar during Healthy Weight Week next week.

“This year we want to focus on sugar because it is such a hot topic and there is a lot of misinformation about sugar so it’s important to clarify the truth around its consumption,” said Haley Carr, dietician at the Alice Springs Hospital.

“We want people to be aware of sugar with no nutritional value, known as ‘empty sugar’, because it should be limited in our diets.

“We also want people to be aware of the sugars that occur naturally in food, such as fruit and milk, and how these should be part of your regular diet,” Ms. Carr said.

A key focus of the promotion of eating less sugar is to clear up some of the mixed messages regarding healthy sugars.

“Making people aware of unhealthy sugars that can cause weight gain is a vital step in treating chronic disease, such as diabetes, renal failure and cardiovascular disease, before they become major health issues,” Ms. Carr said.

“We hope to get the message out to a broader range of people about the healthy consumption of sugar and the importance of watching what you eat and drink,” she said.

National Healthy Weight Week has now reached the ten-year milestone as a successful community event.

Dietitians from the Central Australia Health Service and the Central Australian Aboriginal Congress will staff stalls across the town throughout the week to highlight the importance of limiting sugar in your diet – Monday 13 February at the Yeperenye Shopping Centre from 10am to 1 pm; Tuesday 14 February at the Central Australia Aboriginal Congress on Gap Road from 11am to 1pm; and Wednesday 15 February outside the kiosk at Alice Springs Hospital.

The stalls will host fun activities, with one stall having a bicycle that makes smoothies, and all stalls will be giving away information packs on hidden sugars in products we buy and tips on healthy ways to get sugar into our diet.

Health Weight Week runs from 13-19 February 2017.

The Central Australia Health Service is governed by a Statutory Board and is responsible for the Alice Springs and Tennant Creek Hospitals. It has a primary role in health service delivery in the region, including primary health care, mental health, oral health, cancer screening services and alcohol and other drug services.

Media Contact: Dylan Gilliland 8951 5259 or 0401 114 113