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Aiming to address Australia’s crisis of inactivity and obesity, over 30 Federal MPs and senators are set to participate in AUSactive’s Fit for Office campaign - a three-week fitness challenge commencing at the Parliament House gym in Canberra as of next Tuesday (19th November).

Led by Senate President Sue Lines, Milton Dick, Speaker of the House of Representatives and AUSactive ambassador and former Ironman Champion Guy Leech, the initiative aims to address Australia’s ‘ticking health time bomb’ of chronic illness and mounting healthcare costs.

Tuesday’s event will feature over 30 Federal MPs and senators engaging in a political exercise battle, having their heart rates checked and commencing their personal fitness challenge.

Participants are set to include Federal Assistant Treasury Minister Dr Andrew Leigh; Shadow Health Minister, Senator Ann Ruston; Shadow Treasurer, Angus Taylor; Dr Sophie Scamps, Senators Tammy Tyrrell, Louise Pratt, Bridget Archer, Fiona Phillips and Andrew Wallace, along with Dr Mike Freelander and Melissa McIntosh who led the Parliamentary Inquiry into Diabetes (published in July this year).

With chronic illness, preventable hospitalisations and mental health issues on the rise, Fit for Office aims to lead by example. Warning that without a shift to prevention, GP shortages and rising health costs will continue to burden the healthcare system, former Australian Medical Association President, Professor Steve Robson advises “Australians are ageing - we’re getting heavier, we’re getting older.

“As a nation, we need to get back to basics and get physical. With a tidal wave of conditions like diabetes and osteoporosis washing over the nation, there isn’t a moment to waste.

“If Australia’s health system is to be sustainable in the long term, then the only option is to flip our thinking from providing care for established disease to preventing illness in the first place. Seeing the nation’s political leaders showing the way is a good medicine for national ills. It’s one political example all Australians can follow.”

Statistics Driving the Challenge:

• Preventable Hospital Admissions: Over 700,000 annually due to inactivity and chronic illness.
• Economic Impact: Obesity and sedentary lifestyles cost Australia $11.8 billion each year.
• Healthcare Strain: GP shortages expected to reach 2,500 doctors, with 1.75 million

AUSactive Chief Executive, Barrie Elvish explains “Australia needs to stop being a nation of spectators and become participants. Despite what our colleagues in the sporting world may claim, government investment in sport has a negligible impact on physical activity participation.

“It may well create photo opportunities for politicians, but the reality is, while all sport involves physical activity, very little physical activity involves sport. With participation rates in sport continuing to decline it is more financially prudent for the government to invest in community-based preventive health initiatives rather than chasing gold medals.

“The MPs taking part are setting an example by prioritising health - something that could save billions.”

Senator Ruston adds “regular exercise is far more cost effective than time spent in the hospital system. Living a healthy and active lifestyle has so many physical and mental health benefits, preventing serious disease and costly surgeries, like hip replacements.

“The Fit for Office campaign is a strong reminder on the significant health benefits that come with simply finding the time each day to be active. I am a strong believer in the need to shift our health system to one that promotes good health amongst our community.”

Dr Mike Freelander, Paediatrician and Federal Member for Macarthur, and Chair of Standing Committee on Health, Aged Care and Sport, led the Parliamentary Diabetes Inquiry.

He advises “I’m excited to be getting involved with Fit For Office’s campaign to increase awareness around the need for fitter, more active lifestyles.

“As a medical professional, I understand how important active lifestyles are in increasing mental & physical health in individuals, yet more needs to be done to increase this awareness and ensure individuals get the time to work out.

“By not doing so, it’s not just the individual’s health that is affected, but our wider community is affected too. Poor health leads to poor outcomes, including greater strain on our healthcare services and decreases in work productivity. As an MP, I firmly believe in using my platform to advocate for better decisions, and that is why I have signed up for Fit For Office.”

All MPs and their staff have the opportunity to take part in a health check before and after the campaign and are using MyZone heart rate monitors to track their physical activity. Their exercise efforts will be shown in real-time on a private group leaderboard, and participants can also sync their Apple or Android device to the Myzone app.

Research: It only takes 15 minutes to change your health
AUSactive is highlighting recently published research from Dr Ben Singh at the University of South Australia which shows that exercise is significantly more effective than medication for mental health, enhancing cognition, memory, and reducing depression.

Dr Singh’s large-scale review of 133 studies of corporate and workplace exercise programs involved over 258,000 people of all ages shows even light-to-moderate exercise including ‘exergames’ integrate brain-boosting activity.

This added to his 2023 study which showed exercise is 1.5 times more effective than medication or therapy in reducing mild-to-moderate depression and anxiety.

Dr Singh notes “these findings are crucial because they show that exercise can boost brain function for everyone, not just specific groups. This research supports the idea that staying physically active throughout life is key to maintaining and improving mental sharpness, memory, and cognitive control.

“It also suggests that even light exercise or fun activities like exergames can have significant benefits, making it easier for people to incorporate brain-boosting physical activity into their daily lives.”

Supporting this, Fit for Office Ambassador, Guy Leech, says the initiative is “about inspiring Australians to get moving. Just 15 minutes of daily exercise can boost mental health by 22.5%. Our leaders are setting the example - it’s time to get off the sidelines.”

Images: AUSactive Chief Executive Barrie Elvish and supporting Parliamentarians address the 2023 Fit for Office campaign (top), AUSactive ambassador Guy Leech (middle) and Professor Steve Robson and AUSactive board member and Myzone founder Emmett Williams prepare for the launch of Fit for Office 2024 at Parliament House in Canberra (below).

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