Health Promotion

Marathon Family Health Team offers a variety of programs that can help you reach your health and wellness goals. Registration is easy! Just email [email protected] or call 807-229-3243 to schedule an appointment.

BETTER Program

We are all at risk for developing chronic disease, such as cancers, heart disease, or diabetes. The good news is that making small changes in our diet, physical activity, smoking, alcohol intake and mental wellness can help prevent these chronic conditions.

BETTER is a free program for adults ages 40 to 65 that focuses on chronic disease prevention and screening. It provides participants with the opportunity to learn their personal risk for diabetes, heart disease, and cancer, and make goals to improve their health.

How BETTER Works:

  • Participants will complete a survey about their health,
  • Attend a one-on-one visit with a Prevention Practitioner to discuss their personalized chronic disease risk and set health goals, and 
  • Participate in follow up appointments every 6 to 12 months to reassess their health and track their goals.

If you are between the ages of 40 to 65 years and are looking for BETTER health and wellness, consider contacting the clinic by emailing [email protected] or calling 807-229-3243 to enroll in the BETTER Program.

HealtheSteps Program

A virtual or in-person 6-month healthy lifestyle program that is available to adults 18+ years of age who are seeking to improve their health behaviours and lower their risk for chronic disease. By participating, patients will receive individualized healthy living prescriptions for: exercise, physical activity (daily step count), mindfulness, and healthy eating. The program also includes access to the HealtheSteps online portal and smartphone app to help participants keep track of their progress with their goals.

Step Outside Program

In June 2019, Marathon was recognized as Ontario’s Most Active Community after taking part in ParticipACTION’s Community Better Challenge. As a result, Marathon was awarded a $20,000 prize to support local physical activity opportunities. As the community challenge efforts were led by the Marathon Family Health Team (MFHT), the funds were entrusted to our organization. Based on community feedback, the MFHT decided to use part of the funds to develop a program called Step Outside. The funding that was allocated towards the development of the Step Outside Program was used to identify 10 local trails (4 walking loops and 6 hiking trails); to create cut sheets for each trail, which include a map and other helpful information (e.g. length of the trail, difficulty level and number of steps that will be accumulated); and to purchase trail signage. The MFHT looks forward to building on the Step Outside Program over time, which will allow more residents to reap the many health benefits associated with exercising in a natural environment. 

For more information about the Step Outside Program, click here.

Smoking Cessation (STOP) Program

Marathon Family Health Team has a program available to all patients 16 years and older (may be provided to clients age 14-16 with parental consent). The STOP (Smoking Treatment for Ontario Patients) program can provide nicotine replacement therapy (patch, gum, lozenges and inhaler) at NO COST to patients who want to quit smoking.