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Active arts engagement the key to healthier living

In light of Australia’s looming obesity crisis, engaging with the arts is more important than ever before, especially given the beneficial mental and physical health outcomes of active arts participation.

8 Aug 2014 12:00

Richard Watts

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Writing and Publishing

Image: Chunky Move’s 247 Days (2013).

A recent report on obesity in Australia paints a worrying picture for the future health of the nation, with disadvantaged groups most at risk of becoming ill from complications of the condition. Active engagement with the arts can play a key role in counteracting this trend.

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Richard Watts

Richard Watts OAM is ArtsHub's National Performing Arts Editor; he also presents the weekly program SmartArts on Three Triple R FM. Richard is a life member of the Melbourne Queer Film Festival, a Melbourne Fringe Festival Living Legend, and was awarded the Sidney Myer Performing Arts Awards' Facilitator's Prize in 2020. In 2021 he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Green Room Awards Association. Most recently, Richard received a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in June 2024. Follow him on Twitter: @richardthewatts