Healthy Eating Healthy Action (HEHA) is a national strategy led by the Ministry of Health designed to increase physical activity, improve nutrition, and reduce overweight and obesity in New Zealanders. By achieving this, the HEHA strategy seeks to reduce rates of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and some cancers and extend the length and quality of the lives of New Zealanders.

The HEHA strategy was launched in 2003 with the publication of "Healthy Eating - Healthy Action, Oranga Kai - Oranga Pumau: A Strategic Framework", and is coordinated in each region in New Zealand through district health boards.

There are now a huge range of services, programmes, resources and initiatives across New Zealand and in Otago. These initiatives are happening in our schools, workplaces, marae, cafes, supermarkets, doctor's offices, parks, hospitals and on our televisions.

The vision

... of the HEHA strategy is to create an environment and society where individuals, families and whānau, and communities are supported to eat well, live physically active lives, and attain and maintain a healthy body weight.

Key messages

HEHA is based on eight priority messages, which are:

Eat a variety of nutritious foods
Eat less fatty, salty and sugary foods
Eat more vegetables and fruit
Fully breastfeed infants for at least six months
Be active every day for at least 30 minutes in as many ways as possible
Add some vigorous exercise for extra benefit and fitness
Aim to maintain a healthy weight throughout life
Promote and foster the development of environments that support healthy lifestyles

It's useful to have these guidelines to follow, but how do you go about making them work in your own life?

Eat lots of naturally coloured foods: colourful fruits and vegetables, wholemeal or wholegrain bread etc.
Choose to drink water instead of Raro or other packet drinks: there's a lot of sugar and no other nutrients in these drinks and they can actually make you more thirsty than when you started!
Use frozen and canned vegetables as well as fresh: it can be cheaper and sometimes more nutritious than fresh vegetables which haven't been stored properly
Get the support of your family and friends by talking about your desire to breastfeed: some breastfeeding support agencies in Otago are listed here
Walk to work or school, or try to get off your bus or park a bit further away than you usually would so you can walk some of the way
Make it a rule to always use the stairs
Make gradual, simple lifestyle changes, e.g. switch from blue-top milk to green, yellow (calcium-fortified) or light blue milk
Talk to the powers that be at your workplace about introducing a healthy food policy - check out http://www.nzwellatwork.co.nz for some ideas

Food for thought

Results from the New Zealand Health Survey in 2006/7 show that only 61% of adults in Otago get enough regular exercise - 2 out of 5 adults aren't getting active for at least 30 minutes on 5 of more days of the week.

The most common reason for not getting enough exercise is lack of time, but the survey also showed us that in Otago nearly 70% of our teenagers are watching more than 2 hours of TV every day.

Is it lack of time... Or lack of something else?

For more information on HEHA

Take a look at these websites:

Ministry of Health - www.moh.govt.nz/healthyeatinghealthyaction
Take a look at how HEHA fits in with MOH guidelines, find out more about what agencies are involved, and get access to resources

National HEHA Network - www.heha.org.nz
This is a great tool for sharing information and project updates across the HEHA sector in New Zealand. See what's happening in other regions and nationwide.