The Murrumbidgee Local Health District (MLHD) has banned sugary soft drinks at all of its facilities.

This includes the Leeton District Hospital, Leeton Community Health and other areas that all come under the MLHD banner. 

According to the MLHD the region has a significant problem with rates of diabetes, being overweight or obese and related chronic diseases.

It is pleasing the health service is leading from the front and putting its own advice into practice. 

Too often this isn’t the case, so to be both “talking the talk” and “walking the walk” is only a step in the right direction. 

Drinks still allowed include water, milk-based drinks, 99 per cent juice-based drinks and sugar-free diet drinks.

It’s essential all businesses, schools and work places focus on this issue because it is getting out of hand. 

It’s easy at 3.30pm to reach for that sugar pick me up, but it is doing far more damage to our health than most of us probably realise. 

Australia is a country known for many things – the great beaches, iconic landmarks, the laid back nature, but we’re also becoming known as a nation that is overweight and unhealthy. 

Thankfully Australia hasn’t reached the same level as America, but if something doesn’t change, we’re well on the way. 

Having organisations like the MLHD lead from the front is a solid idea. 

Practising what we preach is pretty much what all Australians want to see. 

There’s nothing an Aussie dislikes more than a hypocrite. 

Education is key and that is what the MLHD is trying to do. 

It all starts at home. 

Children need to be brought up on a balanced diet. 

That means they can enjoy a treat every now and then, but not all of the time. Many schools in Leeton shire are also doing a great job of making sure students eat healthy with their “crunch and sip” initiatives. 

Teaching children at a young age these good behaviours will hopefully carry through to their adult lives. This hopefully then translates into a country with a smaller waistline.