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Heart Week 2006 and Suicide in Oz

You may not have realised it, but it is Heart Week in Australia this week.

So what? you may well ask. Well, if the stats being put out by all the experts are correct - and there isn't any reason to doubt them - then coronary disease caused by obesity, amongst other things, is taking its toll in Australia.

As the Australian Heart Foundation says on its web site:

"The latest figures show the number of Australians carrying excess weight is rising. Six out of 10 adults and one out of five children in Australia are overweight. These facts combined with the strong link between excess weight and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease are the reasons the Heart Foundation has turned its attention to this pressing issue in Heart Week 2006."

Wanna give it a go and see how you can take the initiative with your own health and well being? Check out the Heart Foundation's web site here for some simple strategies and helpful hints on how to take control of your life - for a life!

Meanwhile, this:

"If today's an average day, five Australian men will have committed suicide before it's over.

The annual suicide figure is higher than the national road toll. But although suicide's acknowledged as a big public health problem, it doesn't get as much attention as the vehicle carnage.

In 2004 more than 1,600 men committed suicide, compared to 430 women.

A recent national conference highlighted the male suicide rate as reaching critical levels."

So reported Mark Colvin on last night's PM program. Startling figures.

Read the full report from the ABC's PM program here.

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