Article: Australia the unhealthy nation
Australia has become a nation of sloths with most people either eating poorly or exercising inadequately, a report has found.
More alarming is that almost 1000 children a year are developing type 1 diabetes – a lifelong autoimmune disease which is incurable.
A study by Sydney University of more than 16,000 Australians has painted a grim picture of a slothful, unhealthy nation falling short of its recommendations for exercise and nutrition.
Only one in four meet physical activity guidelines, while 55 per cent eat enough fruit and 15 per cent eat enough vegetables.
National guidelines recommend 2 1/2hours of moderate exercise a week as well as two half-cup servings of fruit and five half-cup servings of vegetables every day.
Researchers from Sydney and Deakin universities said the statistics are “extremely concerning’’.
“These guidelines have been set specifically to help Australians prevent cardiovascular problems and other diseases, and to stay healthy overall but very few seem to be meeting them all,’’ the University of Sydney Department of Exercise and Sports Science’s Dr Evan Atlantis said.
“Consuming the wrong food and not expending enough energy is a recipe for obesity, and that’s what we’re doing to ourselves.’‘
An alarming report released today by the Federal Government also highlights the national diabetes epidemic which is doubling every 10 years.
Between 2000 and 2005 more than 6000 children aged under 14 years developed type1 diabetes – a condition which requires daily insulin injections.
It is the first time a snapshot has been provided on the nation’s growing diabetes problem.
The report, by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, also revealed more than 1000 teenagers developed type2 diabetes – caused by lifestyle – over the five years.
The report’s author Anne-Marie Waters said the rate of new cases among children was alarming.
“No one knows exactly why that is happening,’’ she said.
“Type 1 diabetes does not just develop in childhood. It can arise at any age.’‘
There are 750,000 Australians who have diabetes.
Type1 diabetes is caused when the pancreas fails to produce enough insulin. Doctors are still not clear what causes the disease.
Kate Sikora
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