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Health-related behaviours
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Health-related behaviours
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| Note: | The indicator includes those who met the recommended fruit and vegetable consumption per day. One serve of fruit is equivalent to one medium piece or 2 small pieces of fruit. One serve of vegetables i |
| Source: | NSW Population Health Survey (HOIST). Centre for Epidemiology and Research, NSW Department of Health. |
Nutrition is important at all stages of life. Dietary factors are linked to health and disease, as protective influences or as risk factors, including: coronary heart disease, some cancers, type-2 diabetes, overweight and obesity, osteoporosis, dental caries, gall bladder disease, and diverticular disease (NHMRC, 2003).
The National Health and Medical Research Council have developed dietary guidelines for babies, children, adolescents and adults in Australia (NHMRC, 2003). In general, these guidelines recocomend a wide variety of nutritious foods to be eaten, with limits on fat intake, alcohol, salt and sugars. Specifically, the guidelines recommend that adults, adolescents and children consume on average at least two helpings of fruit and five of vegetables each day, selected from a wide variety of types and colours and served cooked or raw, as appropriate (NHMRC, 2003). An adequate intake of fruit and vegetables has a protective influence on health but most population groups eat less than the recommended amounts of these foods. Vegetables and fruit are significant sources of antioxidants, dietary fibre, folate, and complex carbohydrates. The fibre and low-energy content of fruit and vegetables may benefit weight control.
Overall, in 2005, 51.1% of adults aged 16 years and over ate the recommended daily intake of fruit of 2 serves or more (44.5% males; 57.5% females), and 7.4% of adults ate the recommended daily intake of vegetables of 5 serves or more (4.7% males; 10.1% females). Fruit consumption increased with age from 50.4% in persons aged 16-24 years to 67.6% in those aged 75 years and over. Consumption of the recommended quantities of vegetables ranged from 4.6% in persons aged 16-24 years to 11.9% in those aged 65-74 years.
In 2003-2004, 67.7% of children aged 2-15 years ate the recommended daily intake of fruit of 2 serves or more (65.9% males; 69.7% females), and 20.4% of children ate the recommended daily intake of vegetables of 5 serves or more (20.1% males; 20.7% females).
The NSW Department of Health has developed a strategic plan for population health, Healthy people 2010 (NSW Health, 2006). The strategy relating to reducing obesity will involve different levels of government, industry and the community working together to implement coordinated programs, services and infrastructure across the priority areas of schools, community, parents and childcare promoting healthy weight through increasing physical activity and encouraging healthy eating habits.
| For more information: |
National Health and Medical Research Council. Dietary Guidelines for all Australians. Canberra: Commonwealth of Australia, 2003. Available at: www.nhmrc.gov.au/publications/synopses/dietsyn.htm NSW Department of Health. Healthy People 2010. The population health strategy for New South Wales. Sydney: NSW Department of Health, 2006. Healthy kids NSW. Website at http://www.healthykids.nsw.gov.au/ |
| Print version: | Although this page can be printed directly from your Web browser, a higher quality version of this entire page (graph, table and text) is available as an Acrobat PDF file which can be printed or viewed on screen using free software. |
| Downloadable files: | The data contained in the table on this page are available for download as a CSV file which can be imported into many software packages. The graph is available for download as an EPS (Encapsulated PostScript) file and as an EMF (Enhanced Metafile Format) file. Files in these formats can be imported into most word processing, presentation and graphics software packages. |
| Copyright notice: | This work is copyright NSW Department of Health, 2006. It may be reproduced in whole or in part, subject to the inclusion of an acknowledgement of the source. Commercial usage or sale is prohibited. |
| Suggested citation: | Population Health Division. The health of the people of New South Wales - Report of the Chief Health Officer. Sydney: NSW Department of Health. Available at: http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/public-health/chorep/beh/beh_veg_statage.htm. Accessed (insert date of access). |
| Produced by: | Centre for Epidemiology and Research, Population Health Division, NSW Department of Health. |
| Last updated on: | 17 November 2006 |
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