EAT FOR HEALTH – AusTRALiAn diETARy guidELinEs
106
Food intake, diet and nutritional status
The available evidence suggests that, traditionally, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples were fit and
healthy. The traditional diet appears to have been low in energy density but high in nutrient density – high in
protein, low in sugars, high in complex carbohydrate, and high in micronutrients. Energy expenditure appears
to have been high.28,1002-1006
With the transition from a traditional hunter-gatherer lifestyle to a settled Westernised existence, the diet of
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people has generally changed to an energy-dense diet that is high in fat and
added sugars.311,1005,1006 The diet is also poor in fibre and certain nutrients including folate, retinol, vitamin E and
other vitamins.^352
In 2004–2005, 24% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 15 years and over reported they ran out
of food in the last 12 months, compared to 5% of non-Indigenous Australians.^988 While Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander people living in remote areas were more likely to report having run out of food in the last 12 months
(36%), this figure was also high for those in non-remote areas (20%) and ranged from 18% in New South Wales
to 45% in the Northern Territory.^988 Women are at extra risk, partly because there is a cultural predisposition
for women to feed men and children before themselves.^961 Psychological suffering due to food insecurity can
exacerbate feelings of exclusion, social disruption to family life and in some cases, anxiety about possible loss
of custody of children.10 07
There is very little recent dietary and nutrition data available for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
Self-reported intakes of fruit and vegetables described in the 2004–05 NATSIHS are much higher than would be
expected from more reliable, objective data.7,352,353,440
Aboriginal people living in remote communities
Dietary intakes in remote Aboriginal communities have been consistently measured to be high in refined
carbohydrates and low in fresh fruit and vegetables.352,353,440 Foods with high energy density were associated
with lower costs, contributing disproportionately to energy availability and limiting the capacity of people living
in these communities to attain a healthy diet.353,1008 Food supply is an ongoing issue10 08 with people in rural and
remote areas paying at least 30% more for basic nutritious foods than people living in urban and metropolitan
areas.317,1009-1014 Basic food items are less available in the more remote stores, as are fresh vegetables and fruits
and better nutritional choices.^317 The quality of dietary intake has been shown to vary in close association with
the income cycle in remote Aboriginal communities.1015,1016
In some communities purchased food intake is supplemented by procurement of traditional foods. In the 1994
National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Survey – the last time these questions were asked – 10% of
respondents aged over 14 years reported spending more than 1 hour a week hunting or foraging for traditional
foods and, of these, more than half reported spending more than 5 hours a week doing so.^983 Even though
the actual intake of traditional foods may be low in some areas, traditional foods are still popular and culturally
important for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.7,10 09,1017-1019
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in urban areas
Only limited dietary data are available for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander groups in urban areas. High food
costs, poor access to nutritious foods, convenience of take-away foods, budgeting issues, overcrowding, and
poor knowledge and skills have been identified as barriers to healthy eating in these areas and can lead to food
insecurity and overconsumption of energy-dense nutrient-poor foods and drinks.1007,1020-1022
Recommendations specific to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
The general Australian dietary guidelines are relevant to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.353,440,1023-1026
In particular, increased consumption of vegetables and fruits could be expected to improve the health and
nutritional status of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
lactose intolerance after the age of 3–5 years may, however, be problematic in some areas or for some
individuals.610,611 Alternative calcium sources such as chewing meat and fish bones, and consumption of small,
soft fish bones (e.g. in tinned salmon), and low-lactose dairy foods (such as matured cheese and yoghurt) are
recommended in these cases.
Consumption of traditional bush foods should be supported wherever possible, although intake of some high
saturated fat marine animal foods, such as dugong, should be limited, as was the case traditionally.^1027 In addition,
there may be a problem with high levels of heavy metals in the organ meat of turtle and dugong.^1028