Dietitians Association of Australia
with Claire Hewat
Accredited Practising Dietitian
Executive Director of the
Dietitians Association of Australia (DAA)
New research: Diet and nutrient intake of Indigenous Australians poor
Indigenous Australians eat more white bread, processed meat, added butter and added sugar than the average
Australian, and fall well short of national fruit and vegetable recommendations, according to new research.
The study, in Nutrition & Dietetics pub- start with, particularly in this group of Aus- likely to have heart disease. Improving
lished by Wiley-Blackwell, found intakes tralians,’ said study author and dietitian access to affordable, nutrient-dense foods
of key nutrients such as vitamins A and C, Diane Longstreet. is urgently needed, especially in light of
iron, fi bre, niacin, magnesium and potas- Before entering the program, study rising food costs,’ said Ms Longstreet.
sium were lower in urban participants ate on average 1.4 serves of Claire Hewat, Executive Director of the
Indigenous people, compared with the fruit and 2.2 serves of vegetables a day, Dietitians Association of Australia (DAA),
rest of the population. And intakes of pro- which is below the Australian guidelines said Australia’s last national Aboriginal
tein and cholesterol were much higher. of two fruit and fi ve vegetables, and is and Torres Strait Islander survey showed
The researchers enrolled 100 over- lower than the average Australian intake. that 29 per cent of Aboriginal people
weight Aboriginal and Torres Strait Ms Longstreet said Aboriginal and over the age of 15 worry about going
Islander people in a diet and lifestyle Torres Strait Islander people living in urban without food.
intervention program. At the end of the areas typically eat a Western-style diet, ‘It is a basic human right to have ac-
12 month program, participants were containing few traditional bush foods, cess to suffi cient, safe and nutritious food.
eating less kilojoules and fat, and had lost and this might be linked to the high rates Food security for Aboriginal and Torres
an average of 1.9kg. of chronic disease in this population. Strait Islander people is a top priority for
‘Our study showed that diet and ‘Indigenous Australians have a 17 year us, and we are working with the Pub-
lifestyle programs targeted at Indigenous shorter life expectancy than non-indig- lic Health Association of Australia on a
people can work, but it’s concerning that enous people. They are three times more position statement on this issue,’ said Ms
nutrient intakes are generally so poor to likely to have diabetes and 1.5 times more Hewat.
Fighting diabetes is a family affair
Probing relatives about a history of type 2 diabetes in the family and tackling an unhealthy lifestyle as a family,
could be the answer to curbing Australia’s diabetes epidemic, according to health professionals.
Launching National Diabetes change our genes, there were ways wat said: ‘If someone in your family
Week in Melbourne, National Presi- to prevent or delay the onset of type has diabetes, the whole family needs
dent of Diabetes Australia, Dr Gary 2 diabetes. to make healthy eating a priority
Deed, encouraged Australians to According to recent research, – not just the person with diabetes.
discuss any family history of type 2 maintaining a healthy weight, be- Or if your mum, brother, aunt or any
diabetes with loved-ones. ing physically active and following other family member is trying to shift
‘If both your parents have type 2 a healthy eating plan can lower a a few kilos, give them your support
diabetes, you will have a one in two person’s risk of type 2 diabetes by up and encouragement.’
chance of developing the condition to 60 per cent. Australian Association for Exercise
yourself. Families need to talk about ‘Sensible eating and regular exer- and Sports Science (AAESS) Execu-
diabetes, assess their risk and see cise is so much easier if you make it a tive Offi cer Anita Hobson-Powell said:
their doctor for a full risk assessment,’ family affair,’ said Dr Deed. ‘Improving exercise habits and being
said Dr Deed. Dietitians Association of Australia active as a family is crucial to pre-
He said while it was impossible to (DAA) Executive Director Claire He- venting type 2 diabetes.’
Variety at breakfast linked with better mental health for teens
Adding a banana to a bowl of cereal and milk could be the key to better mental health in teenagers, according to
Australian researchers who have found that a variety of foods at breakfast is linked to mental functioning.
Adding a banana to a bowl of cereal groups, was linked with better mental vitamins,’ said Ms O’Sullivan.
and milk could be the key to better health in 14 year old boys and girls. The researchers asked more than
mental health in teenagers, according And she said that for every extra 800 teenagers what they ate for
to Australian researchers who have food group eaten at breakfast, the breakfast, and scored this based on
found that a variety of foods at break- associated mental health score im- their intake of the core food groups.
fast is linked to mental functioning. proved. Mental health was assessed using a
Presenting her research at the Di- ‘Eating a breakfast of toast with child behaviour checklist.
etitians Association of Australia (DAA) a glass of milk and some fruit seems They found that just one in four
national conference, dietitian Therese to be better than just a large serve teens ate a high quality breakfast,
O’Sullivan from the Telethon Institute of toast alone. This may be because and the two most common core
for Child Health Research said a high mental functioning is affected by the food groups eaten at breakfast were
quality breakfast, with foods from absorption of a variety of nutrients, breads/cereals and dairy products.
at least three different healthy food including calcium, iron and B group
NHDmag.com Aug/Sep ‘08 - issue 37 21
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