Preventive Health SA is encouraging regional families to focus on small, sustainable lifestyle changes as part of a broader push to reduce obesity and lower the risk of chronic disease.

Through the LiveLighter campaign, Preventive Health SA is raising awareness of the health impacts associated with excess weight and introducing the concept of “toxic fat” to help explain how body fat can affect long-term health outcomes.

Chief executive Marina Bowshall said chronic disease was influenced by a range of factors, including excess weight and where fat was stored in the body.

“We know that chronic diseases depend on a lot of things, including how much extra weight we’re carrying and where that fat is stored,” Ms Bowshall said.

“‘Toxic fat’ is used across the LiveLighter campaign in reference to the build-up of visceral fat. This is a type of fat that wraps around our internal organs and produces chemicals and hormones that are harmful to our body.”

Ms Bowshall said this type of fat could significantly increase health risks.

“This can increase our risk to more than 30 diseases and increases the risk of conditions such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and several cancers,” she said.

Ms Bowshall said increasing public understanding was critical in helping people act.

“It’s important that we increase people’s knowledge of the health risks and the steps they can take to lower these risks and change behaviours.”

The challenge is particularly significant in regional communities.

“In rural areas, over 73% of adults and 33% of children are living with overweight or obesity,” Ms Bowshall said.

“This has significant impacts on people and communities, including reduced longevity and quality of life, increasing pressure on the health system, as well as economic and productivity losses.”

She said excess weight could also reduce years of healthy life.

“People with a BMI of 35 or above lose about 7 to 8 years of healthy life compared to people at a healthy weight; those who have a BMI of 30 to 35 lose about 3 to 4 years; and those with a BMI of 25 to 30 lose about a year.”

For regional families wanting to make healthier choices, Ms Bowshall said the focus should not be on drastic changes but on practical habits that could be sustained over time.

“We’re encouraging people to focus on small sustainable steps towards eating well and being physically active,” she said.

“Small changes, like drinking fewer sugary drinks and choosing water instead is a great first step; if you’ve got access to quality drinking water from the tap, that is great, if not rainwater or bottled water might be the best option in your area.”

Other practical strategies included walking while watching children play sport, keeping frozen or canned vegetables on hand to supplement meals, preparing healthy snacks, and making healthier choices when eating out.

Ms Bowshall said practical changes could have lasting benefits.

“We have a range of useful resources to help people and families make healthier choices when eating out, meal plan guides and a whole healthy recipe bank to use.”

Free resources can be found at sa.livelighter.com.au.