Draft Australian Dietary Guidelines (PDF, 3MB) - Eat For Health

4.2.1 Primary preventionDiet and physical activity: The evidence from recent reviews of combined diet and physicalactivity interventions for children suggests that these can prevent overweight and obesity (GradeC, Section 22.1 in Evidence Report [14]) [761-765].The evidence from primary prevention diet and physical activity interventions in adults alsosuggests that these can prevent overweight and obesity (Grade C, Section 22.2 in Evidence Report[14]) [766]. Lifestyle interventions combining diet and physical activity interventions are probablyassociated with reduced risk of developing type 2 diabetes in adults (Grade B, Section 22.3 inEvidence Report [14]) [761-765].Favourable outcomes were consistently observed in interventions focusing on both reducedenergy intake and increased physical activity, supporting the previous evidence statements thatcombined interventions assist weight loss and weight control in both children and adults [767].4.2.1.1 Dietary patterns and specific foods and drinksFat: The previous dietary guidelines and many international public health organisations, includingthe World Health Organization [685], emphasised the major role of fat consumption in thedevelopment of obesity and of reducing fat intake in the dietary management of obesity oroverweight. More recently, WHO has shifted its emphasis, saying there is convincing evidence thatenergy balance is critical to maintaining healthy weight and ensuring optimal nutrient intakes,regardless of macronutrient distribution and percentage of total fat [768].Sugar: No large long-term studies have measured the long-term development of overweight orobesity specifically related to sugar consumption (Section 14.3, Evidence Report [14]). However,recent evidence shows it is probable that consumption of sugar-sweetened drinks (soft-drinks) isassociated with increased risk of weight gain in adults and children (Grade B, Section 15.1 inEvidence Report [14]) [448-459]. A later longitudinal study adds confirmation [769].The literature review to inform the revision of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010 foundstrong evidence that greater intake of sugar-sweetened drinks is associated with increasedadiposity in children and moderate evidence that consumption of sugar-sweetened drinks isassociated with increased body weight in adults [143]. Most of the relevant research (see Chapter3) was conducted in the United States where, unlike Australia, fructose/high fructose corn syrup iscommonly used to sweeten soft drinks. Although these sweeteners differ only slightly from thoseused commonly in Australia, this was taken into consideration in the grading of the EvidenceStatement for this guideline.The review for the US guidelines also found strong and consistent evidence that glycaemic indexand/or glycaemic load are not associated with body weight and do not lead to greater weight lossDRAFT Australian Dietary Guidelines- December 2011 115