Child and Adolescent Obesity Forum

Childhood and Adolescent Obesity: Tackling a challenging problem

Monday, May 24, 2021 – 7pm to 8.30pm

Register for this FREE virtual event via Zoom

Western Sydney Diabetes presents a forum for health professionals on the Prevention, Assessment and Treatment of Children and Adolescents with Overweight and Obesity.

This forum aims to provide information, tips and tools for health professionals to assist in identifying and treating a child and adolescent with overweight or obesity in a sensitive and appropriate manner. The session will also look at strategies for the prevention of obesity in early childhood.

We understand this is a subject many health professionals struggle to address and provide referral pathways. We hope this forum will provide some useful information and advice to help deal with this challenging problem.

Renowned expert Professor Louise Baur will present information on assessment and treatment. We also have the newest information on dietary and lifestyle interventions and the all-important area of prevention. You will also be provided with the opportunity to pose your questions to the experts.

It is suitable for: Healthcare staff working with children who are at risk of, or currently have overweight or obesity, including: GPs, Paediatricians, Nurses, Psychologists, Dietitians, Practice Nurses, Community Healthcare providers, Pharmacists, Family Planning, Early Childhood Centres, School staff, government agencies.

Register here to receive the link for the event.

Diabetes detection at Kimberwalli for NAIDOC Week 2024

Western Sydney Diabetes will be carrying out diabetes detection during NAIDOC Week celebrations on Tuesday, July 9 at Kimberwalli, Whalan.

Diabetes is a condition where there is too much glucose in the blood. The body can’t make insulin, enough insulin or is not effectively using the insulin it does make.

Over time high glucose levels can damage blood vessels and nerves, resulting in long term health complications including heart, kidney, eye and foot damage.

NSW Health estimates that diabetes rates in western Sydney are 13 per cent in adults and have been rising for over a decade.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are three times more likely than non-Indigenous Australians to have diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is a direct or indirect cause for 20% of Aboriginal people’s deaths.

People who are admitted to any hospital in the WSLHD and identify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander have an average rate of diagnosed diabetes of nearly 20%, compared to just 14% in non-Aboriginal people.

From 10am to 3pm, WSD and WSLHD staff be doing finger prick tests during NAIDOC (National Aboriginals’ and Islanders’ Day Observance Committee) Week to measure participant’s blood glucose levels (a HbA1c test) and detect pre-diabetes and diabetes.

All participants will be offered lifestyle change resources and those with pre-diabetes and diabetes will be given a letter and encouraged to see their regular General Practitioner (GP).

The whole process takes about 10 minutes.

WSD was established in response to the growing threat diabetes poses to our community’s health and wellbeing.

It is led by Western Sydney Local Health District and Western Sydney Primary Health Network (WentWest), Diabetes Australia and Department of Planning and Environment to address the Western Sydney diabetes hotspot.

WSD is encouraging adults to go to their GP and get a HbA1c blood test if they:

Have a family history of diabetes;
Have an inactive lifestyle;
Are overweight or obese;
Had diabetes during a pregnancy; or
Have a Pacific Island, Indian subcontinent, African, Asian, South Asian, Aboriginal or Torres Strait Island background.

Details: 10am-3pm, 1 Mimika Avenue, Whalan, kimberwalli@det.nsw.edu.au