DRAFT Australian Dietary Guidelines - Eat For Health

Dietary patterns consistent with the Guidelines improve health
Recent reviews of the evidence on food and health confirm that dietary patterns consistent with
the Guidelines are positively associated with indicators of health and wellbeing.
Two systematic reviews found that higher dietary quality was consistently associated with a 10–
20% reduction in morbidity. For example, there is evidence of a probable association between
consumption of a Mediterranean dietary pattern and reduced mortality (Grade B, Section 20.1 in
Evidence Report [14]) [15-17]. Previous studies have also indicated inverse associations between
plant-based diets and all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, particularly among older adults [18-
20]. The effects of dietary quality tended to be greater for men than women, with common
determinants being age, education and socioeconomic status [21, 22].
There is likely to be great variation in the interpretation and implementation of dietary guidelines.
Nevertheless, when a wide range of eating patterns was assessed for compliance with different
guidelines using a variety of qualitative tools, the assessment suggested an association between
adherence to national dietary guidelines and recommendations, and reduced morbidity and
mortality (Grade C, Section 20.3 in Evidence Report [14]) [21, 22].
More recent evidence from Western societies confirms that dietary patterns consistent with
current guidelines recommending relatively high amounts of vegetables, fruit, whole grains, poultry,
fish, and reduced fat milk, yoghurt and cheese products may be associated with superior
nutritional status, quality of life and survival in older adults [23, 24]. Robust modelling of dietary
patterns in accordance with dietary guidelines has demonstrated achievable reductions in
predicted cardiovascular and cancer disease mortality in the population, particularly with increased
consumption of fruit and vegetables [25].
In relation to obesity, actual dietary recommendations and measures of compliance and weight
outcomes vary greatly in published studies. Overall energy intake is the key dietary factor affecting
weight status (see Chapter 4).
1.2 Social determinants of food choices and
health
Life expectancy and health status are relatively high overall in Australia [12, 26]. Nonetheless,
there are differences in the health and wellbeing between Australians, including in rates of death
and disease, life expectancy, self-perceived health, health behaviours, health risk factors, and use of
health services [27-29].
The causes of health inequities are largely outside the health system and relate to the inequitable
distribution of social, economic and cultural resources and opportunities [27-29]. Employment,
DRAFT Australian Dietary Guidelines- December 2011 8