The best way to prepare for a long and healthy life is to maximise the benefits to be gained from healthy nutrition and a sensible lifestlye. Recognising that our nutritional requirements change as we age is a good start to achieving and maintaining your own healthy and comfortable weight.  

The Australian National Health Survey¹ revealed more adult Australians were overweight or obese in 2007-08 compared with 1995.

For the first time since 1995 the survey measured the exact height and weight of adults and children. Using the Body Mass Index (BMI) approach, the ABS found that 68% of adult men and 55% of adult women were overweight or obese. This is an increase over 12 years as only 64% of men and 49% of women were overweight or obese in 1995.

When looking at the age pattern of obesity in adults, the highest proportion who were overweight or obese were in the middle to older age groups (peaking at 65-74 years of age - 79% for men, and 55-64 years for women – 68%).

For children, there was a significant increase in the proportion who are obese from 5.2% in 1995 to 7.8% in 2007/8. The proportion of boys who were obese more than doubled from 4.5% to 9.7% while girls remained unchanged at 5.8%.

It is never too late to improve on what and how much you eat. Healthy eating helps you keep up your energy, gives you a stronger immune system, improves your state of mind, decreases your risk of disease and helps you control your weight.

1.  National Health Survey: Summary of Results, 2007-8 (cat.no. 4364.0)

Content updated May 11, 2009