Guidelines Dietary - Eat For Health

These changes contribute to an ‘obesogenic’ environment, which promotes excess weight gain by fosteringconsumption of energy-dense and relatively nutrient-poor foods and/or reduced physical activity. 138,147-150In the context of this social and physical environment, overweight and obese individuals need support, ratherthan criticism and discrimination. Education has an important role in establishing health behaviours and thereadiness of individuals to effect behavioural change. Healthy weight initiatives must achieve a balance betweenindividual and societal responsibility and be culturally appropriate, widely available and accessible, particularly todisadvantaged and vulnerable groups. 89,151Guideline 1Energy intake and trend dataIn adults, energy intake increased by 3–4% in the decade to 1995, equivalent to an additional 350 kilojoules perday (see Figure 1.1). 152 Greater increases were seen in children and adolescents, with energy intake increasingby 11% for 10–15 year-old girls (equivalent to an additional 900 kilojoules per day) and by 15% for 10–15 year-oldboys (equivalent to an additional 1,400 kilojoules per day) (see Figure 1.2). 152 Without compensatory increasesin physical activity, these changes are enough to have resulted in the significant observed increase in meanbody weight. 152It should be noted that results of the 2007 Australian National Children’s Nutrition and Physical Activity Surveycannot be compared with previous national surveys due to differences in methodology. As well, in some groups(such as older girls) there is likely to have been significant under-reporting of energy intake. 12 Up-to-date data willbe provided by the 2011–13 Australian Health Survey, which is collecting information about the dietary intake ofAustralians aged 2 years and over. 93Figure 1.1: Mean energy intakes of adults: 1983 and 1995140001200010000TT19831995Kilojoules80006000TT400020000MalesFemalesSource: Adapted from Cook et al (2001). 152Achieve and maintain a healthy weightNational Health and Medical Research Council15