Challenges 5 / 30 and I stop, I win by it!: The effects of long-term?

September 26, 2008 Category: Improvement Print This Article

The obstruction to raise the Health Challenge 5 / 30 or the Challenge I stop, I win by it! is not denied itself in 2008. More than 140 000 Quebecois adhered to one or the other of the campaigns of health intended to start or to maintain healthy habits of life. And they are more numerous to him to have made in family or in team.

Of March 1st to April 11, the Health Challenge 5 / 30 incited the participants to eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables and to move at least 30 minutes, to the minimum five days per week. This challenge attracted 111 932 participants.

Close to 50 000 people had enrolled in some family or in team – an increase of more than 500% in relation to last year. Besides, the Health Challenge 5 / 30 attracted 20 965 miners, either a rise of more than 40% in relation to last year.

Otherwise, 19 014 smokers, supported by 11 134 godfathers and godmothers, participated in the Challenge I stop, I win by it! in 2008. The participants committed to not to smoke during the six weeks of the challenge, either of February 15 to March 27. Here the team work was again, popular: the number of duets "smoker-smoker" registered doubled, passing from 21% to 42%.

The challenge to continue

Does the growing popularity of these two programs of health promotion result in the adoption and the maintenance of healthy habits of long-term life?

Yes, believes the Dr. Martin Juneau, director of the prevention to the institute of cardiology of Montreal (ICM). The icm is one of the instigators of the challenges Health 5 / 30 and I stop, I win by it.

"The Challenge I stop, I win by it! Is the most efficient intervention on the costs-profits plan, indicate the cardiologist. The reduction of the tobacco addiction rate in Quebec, that passed from 24% to 19%, dragged a substantial decrease of the rate of heart attack. "

For what is the Health Challenge 5 / 30, a follow-up will be assured by researchers who will analyze the data provided by the participants and will scrutinize the measures of long-term public health, affirm the Dr Juneau.

The cardiologist is especially delighted with the initiatives of groups, of which the one of the township of Holy Mary-Of-Beauce, in the region of Furnace-Appalachians.