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

All initiatives and approaches which promote physical activity, healthy eating, access to nutritiousfood, and the healthy growth of children contribute to promoting healthy weight at the populationlevel.4.4.1 Achieving and maintaining a healthy weight4.4.1.1 Physical activity (see Appendix 4)Previously it was thought that if energy intake was controlled, 30 minutes of moderate-intensitydaily physical activity would be sufficient to prevent weight gain in adults, providing sitting time wasless than 4.5 hours/day [817-819]. However, in the current environment of abundant availability,promotion and consumption of energy-dense food, there is now international consensus that 45–60 minutes of moderate-intensity daily physical activity is the minimum required for the generalpopulation to prevent the transition to overweight and obesity without reduction in currentenergy intake [88, 820-823]. At least 60–90 minutes of moderate-intensity activity or lesseramounts of vigorous activity may be required to prevent weight regain in formerly obese people[820].The current physical activity guidelines for Australian infants, children and adolescents may beadequate to support optimum growth and development and – together with consuming anutritious diet and appropriate energy intake - weight control [36, 710]. This is supported byrecent evidence from Europe [824].4.4.1.2 Dietary patternsFoundation Diets developed by the Modelling System [10] represent the basis of optimum diets toachieve and maintain a healthy weight as they provide nutrient requirements within minimumenergy intake.Compared to the most recent available adult intakes, Foundation Diets include higher quantities ofvegetables, fruit, wholegrain cereals, poultry, fish, eggs and low-fat milk, yoghurt and cheeseproducts, and lower quantities of starchy vegetables, refined cereals, higher and medium fat milk,yoghurt and cheese products and red meats (latter for men only) [10]. Decreased consumption ofdiscretionary foods would be needed to achieve the dietary patterns within energy constraints.Changes from higher fat to lower fat milk, yoghurt and cheese products and from refined towholegrain cereals would also be necessary [10].To prevent excessive or inappropriate weight gain and therefore prevent development ofoverweight and obesity, the smallest, least active adults in each age and sex group should adoptdietary patterns consistent with the Foundation Diets. Additional foods and drinks can only beincluded without leading to weight gain if physical activity levels are increased [10].DRAFT Australian Dietary Guidelines- December 2011 122