Ask questions if your body doesn't feel right.
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That's one of the key messages Dubbo's Melissa Woodward wants women to take away from Women's Health Week.
Jean Hailes Women's Health Week will be held from 4 to 8 September 2023. This year's theme is 'grow your knowledge'. It encourages women to make informed decisions about their health.
During this week, Ms Woodward said she would love for women to learn something about their bodies from reliable sources.
To start Women's Health Week, Jean Hailes' has encouraged women to keep up to date with their health checks.
There are 'five quick wins' women can do to protect their health: look out for a bowel cancer test kit for those aged 50 to 74-years-old, have a cervical screening test, get your blood pressure checked, book a free breast screen, and check your mental health.
Ms Woodward said Women's Health Week was a chance to bring awareness and education to health issues experienced by women that are not normally discussed.
"It's the opportunity to educate and be educated so we can find better health outcomes for women," she said.
Ms Woodward is a fierce advocate for women's health.
"I am so passionate about women's health because I have seen women struggle without answers, be held back by misinformation and feel so unsafe to move in their bodies for fear of causing damage or injury," she said.
"I want to empower women to heal their relationship with food, exercise and their bodies to enjoy more out of life at every stage of life."
In addition to Fearless Health, Ms Woodward also has the Empowered Women's Health podcast with naturopath and nutritionist Erin Bailey. As the name suggests, Ms Woodward said the focus of the podcast was to empower women with information about their health to allow them to advocate for themselves in a health care setting.
In all of her work, the women's health coach takes a size-inclusive, body positive approach.
"It's important to me as I feel that my body has always been labelled based on my weight, regardless of my abilities. I have been judged and made to feel lesser than when in fact I am strong, confident and capable in my body," Ms Woodward said.
"I want to bring that confidence to women who have been told they need to lose weight in order to be healthy or valued."
At the end of the month, Ms Woodward will be holding an open day and free women's health workshop. It's aimed at supporting women to see how they can create a body positive, non-diet approach to their health and fitness outside weight or aesthetic goals.
The workshop will be held on Saturday, September 30 from 10am. Book a free ticket through the Fearless Health website.
See the other Women's Health Week events happening across the central west here.
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Orlander Ruming
Writing for Central Western Daily, Daily Liberal and Western Advocate.
