Download HHD34_summary_solutions_ Ch7

CHAPTER 7
Summary questions solutions
1
Reasons for the government’s active involvement in improving Australia’s health
status include:
 To educate
 To ensure accurate information is provided to consumers
 To research health issues
 To collect data and create strategies to improve health status
 To create policies in response to Australia’s health situation
 In response to the obesity epidemic
 The impact of poor food consumption on the nation’s health impacts on individual
health and development both directly and indirectly
2
A nutrition survey collects data on food intake for comparison with dietary guidelines and
nutrient intake to compare with RDIs for Australians in general. The survey can also be
used to compare with future surveys to assess trends over time. An example of a nutrition
survey is the National Nutrition Survey (NNS), conducted by the Australian Bureau of
Statistics and the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing.
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Two government initiatives that address health issues for the Australian population are,
Australian Dietary Guidelines and the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating. The
Australian Dietary Guidelines seeks to promote the potential benefits of healthy eating to
reduce the risk of diet-related disease and to improve the community’s health and
wellbeing. It provides guidance on foods, food groups and dietary patterns that protect
against chronic disease and provide the nutrients required for optimal health and
wellbeing. The Australian Guide to Healthy Eating also provides a visual representation
of the recommendations for healthy eating in the Australian Dietary Guidelines.
Cambridge University Press
© Goodacre, Collins, Slattery 2014
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The Australian Government has a major role in making Australia a healthier nation.
Health promotion is a major part of the education process that will lead to changes in the
current health status of the population. It is also the role of the government to research
issues relating to health, collect data relating to health issues, create strategies to improve
health status, and create policy and guidelines reflecting the information gathered and in
response to Australia’s situation.
Non-government organisations (NGOs) such as Nutrition Australia have also developed
nutritional guides that provide direct dietary advice to consumers to educate and promote
healthy eating. Due to their high-quality programs and organisational independence,
NGOs can also provide a credible and valued nutrition ‘voice’ for consumers and health
professionals.
The promotion of healthy eating is addressed via health promotion activities relating to
food consumption and guiding nutrient intake (Nutrient Reference Values), strategies
related to recommendations for healthy eating (dietary guidelines), and policy
development and legislation (food standards, nutrition labelling, nutrient and health
claims).
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The strengths of the Australian Dietary Guidelines are that it is designed to be relevant to
all sectors of the food system, enabling it to be utilised in healthcare, education and the
food industry as well as patient and client counselling.
6
The Australian Guide to Healthy Eating provides a visual representation of the
recommendations for healthy eating evident in the Australian Dietary Guidelines.
The AGHE applies to all healthy Australians, as well as those with common health
conditions such as being overweight.
The five food groups are visually represented in the AGHE and the recommended
proportion of each food group to be eaten is evident by the proportioning of each of the
food groups. The proportions are as follows:
 Grain foods group – six serves
 Fruit – two serves
 Vegetables and legumes – five serves
Cambridge University Press
© Goodacre, Collins, Slattery 2014
2
 Milk, yoghurt and cheese – two serves
 Meat, fish, chicken, eggs, nuts and legumes – two serves
Also represented in the AGHE are:
 Foods to be used in small amounts
 Foods to be consumed only sometimes and in small amounts
 Water
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‘Discretionary choices’ appear in the bottom right-hand corner of the AGHE and consist
of a range of foods and drinks that are high in kilojoules, saturated fat, added sugars
and/or salt or alcohol. These foods and drinks are considered to be discretionary because
they are not an essential or necessary part of healthy dietary patterns.
Many Australians consume too many discretionary choices. While discretionary choices
can help contribute to the overall enjoyment of eating, often as part of social activities,
most Australians need to eat these foods less often and in much smaller amounts.
8
The Australian Government has a major role in making Australia a healthier nation.
Health promotion is a major part of the education process that will lead to changes in the
current health status of the population. It is also the role of the government to research
issues relating to health, collect data relating to health issues, create strategies to improve
health status, and create policy and guidelines reflecting the information gathered and in
response to Australia’s situation.
Non-government organisations (NGOs) such as Nutrition Australia have also developed
nutritional guides that provide direct dietary advice to consumers to educate and promote
healthy eating. Due to their high-quality programs and organisational independence,
NGOs can also provide a credible and valued nutrition ‘voice’ for consumers and health
professionals.
The promotion of healthy eating is addressed via health promotion activities relating to
food consumption and guiding nutrient intake (Nutrient Reference Values), strategies
related to recommendations for healthy eating (dietary guidelines), and policy
development and legislation (food standards, nutrition labelling, nutrient and health
claims).
Cambridge University Press
© Goodacre, Collins, Slattery 2014
3
9
Nutrition Australia’s primary objective is to provide scientifically based nutrition
information to encourage all Australians to achieve optimal health through food variety
and physical activity. According to Nutrition Australia the range of services that it offers
includes:
•
providing the latest on nutrition research, current food and health trends
•
coordination of the events in the annual National Nutrition Week Campaign
•
high-profile seminars for the general public and health professionals
•
extensive media and public speaking experience
•
media commentary
•
preparation and design of publications
•
food industry consultancies
•
nutrition training and presentations
•
menu assessments
Discussion on opinion of the achievement of this objective will vary.
10 The Healthy Living Pyramid has been developed by Nutrition Australian and is designed
as a simple, conceptual model for people to use as a first step to adequate nutrition. It
represents basic foods only.
The pyramid is divided into three sections:
1. Eat Most.
2. Eat Moderately.
3. Eat in Small Amounts.
The Healthy Living Pyramid encourages food variety, adequate water consumption, limited
salt, minimum fat, and adequate fibre and encourages physical activity, displaying legs at
the base of the pyramid, promoting individuals to move more.
Cambridge University Press
© Goodacre, Collins, Slattery 2014
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