BODY image concerns about weight management is the top health topic for Australian women, but now is a chance to talk ‘what is normal’.
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Advocacy organisation Jean Hailes for Women’s Health is promoting conversations about ‘elephant in the room’ topics among region and remote women, with a specific focus in Ballarat and Daylesford, in a bid to improve body image speak.
Jean Hailes deputy chief executive officer Mandy Deeks said women tend to spend a lot of time worrying about what was normal or healthy, rather than seeking credible information.
A regional road trip through Ballarat, Daylesford and Geelong, starting Friday, and a free interactive webcast aimed for regional and rural women on Monday, will launch Women’s Health Week. This aims to encourage a sense of community among women to know they are not alone, or abnormal, in their health concerns.
“A lot of women worry about if they’re not normal or think they’re crazy,” Dr Deeks said.
"This year’s theme, ‘Am I Normal,’ is such an important topic for women. It’s a question we all ask ourselves at some stage, whether it’s about weight, body image, mental health or sex.
“...We’re going all around Australia but this year we specifically want to get into regional Victoria and have conversations with women in those areas.”
Weight – keeping it down and being a healthy weight – was the top health issue for Australian women in a Jean Hailes survey, above cancers, menopause, chronic pain and mental concerns. About 80 per cent of women check their appearance before walking out the door because they were worried how they look and almost 60 per cent of women say family and friends play big role in their body image.
Dr Deeks said it was time to start changing how we talk.
Jean Hailes road show will be at Wendouree Village on Friday and in Daylesford on Saturday, 9am-3pm. An hour-long webcast, featuring health experts Karen Inge, Maureen Matthews and Dr Deeks, is Monday, 7.30pm at womenshealthweek.com.au.