According to a report released today by the Australian Institute
of Health and Welfare (AIHW) more than 50% of people in Australia
are not meeting minimum recommendations for fruit and vegetable
consumption.
In 2001, one in two adults reported eating the recommended level
of fruit per day and just one in three reported eating the
recommended level of vegetables.
Diets high in vegetables, fruit and legumes are associated with
substantially reduced risk of coronary heart disease, stroke and
some cancers.
Although there has been an increase in the proportion of
Australians who usually consume at least four serves of vegetables
per day, from 15% of men and 22% of women in 1995 to 27% of men and
34% of women in 2001, it's still not enough says report author Anne
Marie Thow of the AIHW's Population Health Unit.
'Compounding the problem is the trend towards higher proportions
of people being insufficiently active and increased levels of
obesity,' she said.
The report, Towards national indicators for food and
nutrition-an AIHW view, takes a detailed look at a variety of
existing measures for and nutrition indicators in Australia and
compares them with available data from countries with established
indicators for monitoring food and nutrition.
Ms Thow said the report is particularly important because it
brings together existing data from a variety of sources to
highlight areas where more data is needed.
'In 2003 the National Health and Medical Research Council
(NHMRC) issued updated dietary guidelines, and the AIHW wants to
make sure that the data that is now being collected is relevant to
those guidelines.
'Having relevant nutritional indicators means we can make sure
we are collecting and reporting on the data we need in a consistent
way and as part of an ongoing monitoring program, in this critical
area of public health,' she said.
The report will contribute to the development of a national food
and nutrition monitoring system in Australia, and will provide a
status report on the nutrition of Australians relevant to the
Dietary Guidelines for Australian Adults.
24 February 2006
Further information: Ms Anne Marie Thow, AIHW,
tel. 02 6244 1023
For media copies of the report: Publications
Officer, AIHW, tel. 61 2 6244 1032
Availability: Check the AIHW Publications
Catalogue for availability of Towards national indicators
for food and nutrition-an AIHW view.