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It's easy to forget, or put them off, but making time once every year or two for these quick health checks could save your life. See the list here...
Healthy living Nutrition through life
Nutrition through life
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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.
20s to 30s
Bone health, Iron and balanced diet. More...
30s to 40s
Maintain energy and prevent weight gain. More...
40s to 50s:
Enough calcium, heart health and phytoestrogens. More...
50s to 60s:
Healthy eating. More...
60s to 70s:
Prevent weight gain. More...
70s and plus:
Eat a healthy diet. More...
Further Resources
Books
Nutrtion for Life
by Catherine Saxelby
Recipes for a great Life: Simple steps to wellbeing and vitality
by Gabriel Gate & Dr Rob Moodie
Zest - over 120 recipes
by Catherine Saxelby & Jennene Plummer
Fact sheets
Healthy Eating for You 116.18 Kb
Nutrition and Health for Women at Midlife 106.39 Kb
Websites
1. National Health Survey: Summary of Results, 2007-8 (cat.no. 4364.0)
Content updated May 11, 2009
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