A new study warns that by 2030, Australians’ diets will worsen, with a significant decrease in fruit intake and an alarming rise in junk food consumption. This shift threatens national health targets and public health initiatives aimed at improving diet quality.
Australians have long been consuming more junk food than is healthy, and current trends suggest that the situation will continue to deteriorate. New modeling from Australian health experts projects that by 2030, fruit consumption will decline by nearly 10%, while junk food intake will rise by 18%. This growing reliance on unhealthy food threatens to push the nation even further from meeting dietary guidelines established by the National Preventive Health Strategy, which calls for more fruit, vegetables, and less discretionary food consumption.
According to the strategy, adults should consume two servings of fruit and five servings of vegetables daily, and keep junk food intake to less than 20% of total energy. However, current patterns show that Australians are falling short of these goals. Between 2015 and 2023, fruit intake fell by 0.1 serves, with an expected further decline of 9.7% by 2030. On the other hand, discretionary food intake has steadily increased by 0.7 serves, with a forecasted rise of 18% by 2030.
These troubling trends are evident across various demographics, with women projected to experience a 13.2% decrease in fruit consumption and a 21.6% increase in junk food by 2030. Men will see a smaller drop in fruit intake (4.8%) but a significant increase in junk food consumption (19.5%). Older Australians, particularly those over 70, are expected to show the largest declines in both fruit and vegetable intake.
In contrast, young Australians aged 18-30 represent a bright spot. This age group is predicted to increase their fruit and vegetable intake by over 10%, though their overall consumption will still fall short of recommended levels. Despite this positive development, their overall diet quality is still a concern, as junk food remains a prevalent part of their daily intake.
The study, based on over 275,000 responses from the CSIRO Healthy Diet Score survey, sheds light on alarming shifts in Australian dietary habits. However, it does not delve into the underlying causes, such as the influence of social, economic, and environmental factors. The affordability and accessibility of fresh produce, along with societal pressures, could be contributing to the decline in healthy eating.
Experts stress that while the situation may seem dire, it is not too late to reverse these trends. A multifaceted approach, including better public understanding of healthy eating and policy changes around food pricing and availability, is crucial. Collaboration across sectors will be essential in helping Australians make healthier choices and achieve national dietary goals by 2030.
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