Guidelines Dietary - Eat For Health

1.5 Practice guide for Guideline 1Table 1.4: Summary of practical considerations for Guideline 1Guideline 1Population groupAdults—to achieveand maintain ahealthy weightAdults—to promoteweight lossInfants, childrenand adolescents—to achieve andmaintain a healthyweightInfants, childrenand adolescents—to manageoverweightPregnant andbreastfeedingwomenOlder peopleAustralians ofAsian originConsiderations• Nutritious foods should be chosen from the five food groups and the unsaturatedfat allowance, in amounts consistent with Foundation Diets• Discretionary (energy-dense, nutrient-poor) choices should be limited• Taller and/or more active adults in each age and sex group can choose additionalserves of foods from the five food groups and/or unsaturated spreads and oilsand/or discretionary foods to increase energy intake to meet energy requirements• Weight and waist circumference should be measured regularly (e.g. every 2 or3 months)• The recommendations of the Australian physical activity guidelines should be followed• The Foundation Diets should be adhered to, without discretionary foods or anyadditional serves of the five food groups• Weight loss will not be achieved unless energy intake is lower than totalenergy expenditure• Behavioural change to increase physical activity and improve dietary intakeis fundamental to weight management• Foundation Diets represent the basis of optimum diets to support optimum growthand development• Growth and weight should be checked regularly and the amount and/or quality ofdiet and physical activity adjusted• Childhood is a period of education about good nutrition—appropriate use of foodhelps to establish healthy nutrition practices for life• Restricting diet — beyond adherence to the Foundation Diets and limiting intake ofdiscretionary foods and drinks—is not recommended• The recommendations of the Australian physical activity guidelines should be followed• Appropriate steady weight gain during pregnancy is important to optimise short- andlong-term health outcomes for both infant and mother• Weight loss diets are not recommended at any time during pregnancy• Declining energy expenditure with age must be balanced by adjusting energy intake tomaintain body weight within the healthy range• Physical activity is needed to help maintain muscle strength• Lowering blood pressure and normalising blood lipids may be more appropriate foroverweight older people than reducing weight• The upper range of BMI for healthy adults may be more appropriate for older persons• The Australian Dietary Guidelines are not appropriate for frail elderly people or those withcomplex health conditions—an appropriate health professional should be consulted• Applying the current WHO BMI cut-off points may underestimate body fatness andcomorbidity riskWhere to next?The next chapter provides information on the importance of consuming a wide variety of nutritious foods topromote healthy weight, to promote health and wellbeing and to prevent chronic disease.Achieve and maintain a healthy weightNational Health and Medical Research Council29