Meshel Laurie Biggest Women's Health Check Interview

Priceline Pharmacy has launched its Biggest Women's Health Check

In partnership with comedian and television host, Meshel Laurie, Priceline Pharmacy is launching its Biggest Women's Health Check from 13 April to 7 May and are aiming to improve the health of 50,000 Aussie women with FREE health checks. It's time to give them the wakeup call they need with results from Priceline Pharmacy showing over one third of women have two or more health risks, including high BMI, high body fat percentage and high blood pressure.

Priceline Pharmacy and Meshel are encouraging Australian women to take control of their health. Recently, Meshel received some concerning results around her BMI and blood pressure during her health check with the Priceline Pharmacist, commenting: "my health has never been an issue but now I'm getting older I need to make time to prioritise taking care of myself. I have a new diet and exercise plan to reduce my BMI and blood pressure, and I know it's important to create a healthier lifestyle that I can stick with."

Priceline Pharmacy's free health check takes 15 minutes and includes tests for anaemia, cholesterol, and blood pressure plus lifestyle discussions including weight management and advice on how to examine yourself for lumps using a mock breast.

https://www.priceline.com.au/

Interview with Meshel Laurie

Question: Why did you decide to get on board for the Priceline Pharmacy Biggest Women's Health Check?

Meshel Laurie: As I get older, my health is becoming increasingly important to me. It's really important for women to stay on top of their health and not only choose to take notice if they become sick or have a scare.

I know a lot of women who, like me, are focused on caring for other people and forget to prioritise their own health. I remember something that Samuel Johnson from Love Your Sister always said - that women are the centre of the family, so it's so important that we take care of women. I love that Priceline Pharmacy has developed a way for us to check in with our health in a fast and convenient way- and it's free! It only takes 15 minutes out of your day.


Question: Can you tell us about the Priceline Pharmacy Biggest Women's Health Check?

Meshel Laurie: The campaign will be running from the 13th of April to the 7th of May and is aiming to improve the health of 50,000 Aussie women with free health checks. Whether that's having a full Women's Health Check, using one of the digital health stations or just chatting to a pharmacist. No matter how you do it, just prioritise your health!

Recent statistics from Priceline Pharmacy's Health Station data has revealed over one third of women have two or more health risks, including high BMI, high body fat percentage and high blood pressure. This is insane! Women need to take charge and start being more aware and in control of their health- me included!


Question: What's involved in a free Women's Health Check?

Meshel Laurie: In just 15 minutes, a Priceline pharmacist will:
Have a quick discussion with you about your lifestyle and chat about your diet, exercise regime and smoking habits
Conduct a short cholesterol test (you do not need to fast for this)
Give you tips for self-breast check awareness with a model latex breast
Give you a blood pressure reading
Give you an anaemia reading, with a pink prick blood test
Conduct a weight evaluation which will provide your BMI (Body Mass Index) number.


Question: What did you learn from your own Priceline Pharmacy Biggest Women's Health Check?

Meshel Laurie: My own Women's Health Check was very informative, I haven't had my BMI calculated in years or my blood pressure or cholesterol checked for long time. The results indicated I need to work on reducing my BMI and blood pressure, and now I've developed some realistic goals to help to do this. My blood pressure and cholesterol have never ever been high in my entire life. I just took for granted that they were two things I would never have to worry about. And now after my health check I've realised I do have to take them seriously.


Question: What have you changed since your health check?

Meshel Laurie: My diet and exercise and cutting down on salt. I realised I have started eating a lot of salt, which I've never done before. I've heart it's quite common as we age our taste buds are left desensitised so we need to compensate by adding more salt to food for flavour. Salt isn't great for blood pressure so I've really been trying to cut down on that.


Question: Can you tell us about your new diet and exercise plan?
Meshel Laurie: I've reduced my carb intake to once per day, I'm not completely cutting them out but just reducing my intake and focussing on increasing my protein and vegetable intake. For exercise, I'm just doing more if it. I was doing about 7,000 steps a day and I've upped it to 10-15,000. I am making an effort to get outside and do some physical activity every day, even if it's a walk with my kids and our dog.

Because I am -on-the-go' so often, I was used to just grabbing the easy food options which were not always the healthy choice, so that's something I'm trying to improve. I'm now taking time to meal prep and if I need to eat out- choosing a healthier option. I'm trying to plan ahead, if I have a busy day to plan and making sure I know what I am going to eat or making sure I have time to go somewhere healthy.


Question: How have you created a healthier and more maintainable lifestyle?

Meshel Laurie: I've just tried to go for an overall lifestyle change rather than engaging in a drastic diet or exercise regime. I've really just changed my attitude overall to health and made it a priority! This is also something that I will continue on going, I will keep going back to my Priceline pharmacist to check in on my health stats to make sure I stay on track. I've already been back twice, a few days ago I popped in to have my blood pressure checked.


Interview by Brooke Hunter