The University of Wollongong and Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District researchers are inviting Illawarra residents to get involved with their new program HealthTrack. 

The initiative aims to help residents develop a healthier lifestyle and reduce their weight.  

The healthy lifestyle study takes a ‘novel’ approach to weight loss by bringing together researchers with nutrition, psychology, public health, exercise physiology, medicine, social sciences experts with statistics. 

Nutrition and dietetics expert Professor Linda Tapsell, is leading the study and said more than 60 per cent of Australians are now overweight.

“Illawarra Shoalhaven residents are, on average, more overweight than the state average. Clearly new approaches to this perennial problem are needed,” she said.

The program has been developed over 12 months and now aims to recruit 360 local residents between the ages of 25 and 54.

“We are very excited to be finally launching the study and telling the community about it,” Prof Tapsell said.

“We all know the feeling of putting on a bit of weight but, for some of us, this continues to progress and can impact on wellbeing. It can also increase our risk of developing diseases such as diabetes and heart disease.

“This is a great Illawarra initiative that feeds straight back into the community, so hopefully we can all work on it together.” 

Prof Tapsell and the team are hoping that the local community get behind the study by telling their friends, colleagues and family members. 

Participants must complete an online survey, which will be examined by the Healthtrack team individual suitability for the program. 

For more information or to get involved visit: www.ihmri.uow.edu.au/healthtrackstudy or phone 1800 194 717.