Congratulations Australians take a bow, we are at the top of
our game. Unfortunately, for all the
wrong reasons. A report released this
week by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare reveals that, as a
nation, we are fatter, lazier and unhealthier than ever before. Our top five habits are as follows:
1. The prevalence of Type 2 Diabetes is increasing. Diabetes has doubled from 1.5 to 4.1 per cent
in the last 20 years with the disease to become the number one health burden in
Australia by 2030. This debilitating
metabolic condition is caused by insulin resistance – in other words, the body
cannot transport sugar into the body cells because it doesn’t ’recognize’ it –
so it stays in the bloodstream in high concentrations. This can lead to blindness and kidney
disease.
2. We are doing less exercise. Over the last decade the number of adults not
getting enough exercise rose from 69 to 72 per cent with women less likely to
exercise than men. In 2008, 69 per cent of men failed to get 30 minutes of
moderate activity on most days of the week.
By contrast, 76 per cent of women didn’t get enough exercise. Cultural norms are probably restricting exercise
opportunities for women at the expense of raising children and general home
duties. The up-side is that women are in
a strong position to positively influence the entire family by preparing
healthy meals and reinforcing healthy habits in children.
3. We don’t eat a healthy diet. An
incredible 91 per cent of adults don’t eat at least five serves of vegetables
everyday – up from 86 per cent four years earlier. Forty-nine per cent of the population don’t
eat two serves of fruit compared with 46 per cent less than a half a decade
previously. We live in a ‘food swap’ –
food is everywhere and ‘everywhen’. We
are lucky enough in Australia to be exposed to fresh, wholesome fruits and
vegetables year round so making better food selections is a matter of choice
rather than availability. Vegetables
contain vital nutrients for wellbeing – eat them often.
4. We are getting heavier. In 2008, 61 per cent of
Australian adults were overweight or obese compared to 57 per cent in 1995 with
men generally fatter than women. This
situation is a worldwide problem with its own name – ‘The Globalization of
Illness ‘. People in developed nations
are eating the same, living the same and now we are dying in the same way. Due to our obesity heart disease and strokes
are still Australia’s principle cause of death.
A situation that is largely preventable through regular exercise and
proper nutrition.
5. Our kids are getting heavier. One in four children are now overweight or
obese and for the first time in Australia’s modern history, are now dying from
this condition prior to their parents. This is perhaps the most alarming statistic to
emerge over the last 10 years. The reason?
Our children are eating foods high in energy yet moving less than ever
before. But let’s not point the pudgy
finger at kids alone – parents have a crucial role to play in providing regular
and nutritious food and being active role models.
So, what to do? Simple. If you are sitting in front of a computer
screen all day (let’s face it, most of us do) get 30 minutes of continual
exercise at least 3-5 days per week (and take your kids with you), eat
vegetables and fruits every day, limit sugar and saturated fat intake and drink
at least a litre of water each day.
Remember, good health happens not by default but by design.
