Reality Check

The reality is many people have good reason to consider adjusting their diets. Almost half of all Australian women and two thirds of Aussie men are either overweight of obese.

Given the amount of energy we burn, the average Australian eats too much. There are two ways to combat this – burn more energy by being more active, and/or don’t eat so much. Secondly, we tend to eat too much fat (particularly saturated or animal fat) and too little unrefined carbohydrate (cereals, grains, vegetables, fruit).

The major illnesses in which heart disease, stroke, some forms of cancer, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis and obesity itself.

So what should we eat? Here’s part of the problem: if you want to put someone to sleep or turn them off even attempting to change their eating behaviors, tell them the dietary guidelines as laid down by the National Health and Medical Research Council.

These guidelines specify:

· 7 serves of fruit and vegetables per day

· A max of 30 per cent energy intake from fat

· A max of 10 per cent energy intake from saturated fat

· A max of 100mmol per day of salt.

In a nutshell, aim to eat more fruit and vegetables, less animal fats and less salt.

Many fad diets will succeed in the short term because they restrict calories so much. But such diets cannot be sustained. If you want to exercise, you won’t have enough energy. The result can be an unhealthy yo-yo effect on your weight.

They do not provide a sustainable change in your eating habits that will lead to long-term good health. The long term answer comes down to discipline and common sense.

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