Health

A warning for Gen X women

14/10/2011 Office of Road Safety

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There’s no doubt Gen X is a generation of the fast lifestyle, racing from one thing in our life to another. But a scary new survey shows half of Gen X women are also overweight or obese.

Nearly one in two Generation X women are now overweight or obese, according to a new Heart Foundation survey, and face a higher risk of heart disease, diabetes and certain cancers as a result.

The Heart Foundation surveyed more than 2,500 women aged 30-44 about their height and weight, and found that 49% of participants self-reported height and weight measurements that gave them a body mass index (BMI) in the overweight (25-29.9), or obese (greater than 30), range.

Dr Lyn Roberts, National CEO of the Heart Foundation says: “Everyone knows that it is important to eat a balanced diet and be active, but many of us struggle to achieve this healthier lifestyle. Australians, and mums in particular,are constantly being bombarded with information on how to be healthy, but so much of it gets dumped in the too hard basket because it is complicated, confusing or contradictory.”

Are you rushing through life focused on career, family, friends and everything but your health? You are clearly not alone. The Heart Foundation are now launching Mums United, a new campaign to help mums understand the small, easy change that can their health. Check out some of their ideas at www.heartfoundation.org.au/mumsunited.

“We know that women tend to worry more about their children, partner and parents than themselves, but actually one of the best ways for mums to improve their family’s health is to put themselves first and focus on their own health,” Lyn says.