Cardinia Shire residents encouraged to drink up in H30 Challenge
Cardinia Shire Council has teamed up with Aligned Leisure and health promotion foundation VicHealth to encourage local residents to sign up for the H30 Challenge and improve their health.
VicHealth’s H30 Challenge encourages Victorians to make a simple 30-day pledge to replace every sugary drink they would normally drink, with water.
Sugary drinks include sugar-sweetened soft drinks, energy drinks, fruit drinks, sports drinks, ready-to-drink iced tea, flavoured water and cordial.
Cardinia Shire Council is one of 18 Councils VicHealth is working with this year to promote the challenge.
Participants in group fitness classes at Cardinia Life will be asked to sign up, with an array of prizes on offer as incentives. A Fitbit, Nike and Rebel Sport vouchers, AFL family passes and more will be given away as prizes through March for those who sign up and take on the challenge.
VicHealth CEO Jerril Rechter welcomed Cardinia Shire Council’s involvement in the H30 Challenge.
“The H30 Challenge costs nothing and could make a big impact on your life. A regular 600mL bottle of soft drink contains about 16 teaspoons of sugar and there are around 11 teaspoons of sugar in a sports drink. You wouldn’t put this much sugar in your morning coffee yet many people are unknowingly consuming such high amounts on a daily basis,” Ms Rechter said.
“With nearly two-thirds of Victorians currently overweight or obese, reducing intake of excess kilojoules through sugary drinks is one way to promote a healthier diet and improve health, prevent tooth decay - and save money.”
Cardinia Shire Mayor Cr Brett Owen welcomed the challenge, saying that making smarter food choices and increasing physical activity are two of the most important steps to leading a healthier life.
“One of our biggest priorities at Cardinia Shire Council is focusing on improving the health and wellbeing of our community. We want everyone who lives, works, learns and plays in Cardinia Shire to be healthy and active,” Cr Brett Owen said.
“With around 17.5 per cent of our residents consuming soft drink on a daily basis, the H30 Challenge is the perfect opportunity for us to all get involved and kick sugary drinks to the curb.”
To sign up, go to H30 Challenge website and receive email updates, text messages, tips, tools and helpful advice to keep you motivated.
This is a combined media release issued by VicHealth, Cardinia Shire Council and Aligned Leisure.