Health care group Bupa has launched a search for the country’s most inspiring health blogs in the second annual Bupa Health Influencer Blog Awards.

With additional categories this year the awards encourage bloggers and their readers to nominate uplifting blogs in one of seven categories: healthy lifestyle and fitness, parents-to-be and babies, healthy eating, family time, travel, animal lovers, and social good.

Bupa’s director of marketing, John Moore, said the success and popularity of the inaugural awards in 2013 encouraged Bupa to make it an annual tradition.

“The quality of blogs that emerged throughout the nomination process last year was incredible and we were so impressed with the positive health messages Australian bloggers incorporated into everyday life.

“As a health partner, we believe it’s really important to acknowledge people who demonstrate an ongoing effort to sharing their experiences and inspiring others to make positive life changes,” he said.

Nominations are open until 3 October, and are both self and peer nominated.

The judging panel includes previous year’s overall winner Lee Holmes of Supercharged Food; Women’s Fitness Australia deputy editor Samera Kamaleddine; Bupa chief medical officer Dr Paul Bates; and Bupa health ambassador and Olympic swimmer Matt Welsh.

Winners of each category will receive $1,000, the opportunity to write articles commissioned by Bupa’s e-newsletter distributed to millions of Bupa members and profiled in Women’s Fitness. A People’s Choice winner (voted for by the public) will receive $2,000 along with the Bupa e-newsletter article options and Women’s Fitness profile. One overall winner will receive $5,000, with Bupa e-newsletter and Women’s Fitness exposure.

The overall winner will also win a mentoring session with Women’s Fitness deputy editor Samera Kamaleddine, who said she is excited to work with passionate health advocates.

“The blogger world is such a dynamic content space, particularly in the health and lifestyle communities. We are really excited to be involved and play a part in enriching and supporting the growth of the blogger talent out there,” she said.