Aussie lifestyle linked to chronic disease
More than 90% of Australians fail to consume the recommended amounts of vegetables each day, placing them at a risk of being diagnosed with a chronic disease, a new report has found. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) took a look at the lifestyle behaviours of Aussies, stating it could contribute to arthritis and other diseases.
More than 90% of Australians fail to consume the recommended amounts of vegetables each day, placing them at a risk of being diagnosed with a chronic disease, a new report has found.
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) released the report late last week and provided a comprehensive picture of the lifestyle behaviours of Australians that could contribute to chronic diseases, such as arthritis, Type 2 diabetes, depression, asthma and osteoporosis.
The report also found only half of Australians consume enough fruit and about 60% do not have enough physical activity combined in their day-to-day living. More men (17%) than women (11%) have five or more risk factors.
Dr Peter Ford, Australian Medical Association’s chair of the committee for healthy ageing, tells DPS News rather than warning people to eat well and exercise in old age, nutritional advice earlier in life is the key.
“We need to try to prevent some of the health problems we find in older people… people need to start getting adequate amounts of iron and calcium, and an appropriate intake of salt.
“A balanced diet is obviously the key to preventing many of these chronic diseases faced by Australians,” he says.
AIHW spokesperson, Ann Hunt, said in a released statement it was important Australians with low fruit and vegetable consumption understand the risks of chronic diseases they face as a result.
She added those who consume alcohol at “risky levels” are more likely to report daily smoking than those who do not smoke.
“And for those who are obese, high blood pressure is more common as a co-risk factor than for people who are not obese.”
Picture: Reuters
