EAT FOR HEALTH – AusTRALiAn diETARy guidELinEs
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The prevalence of health risk factors also varies depending on country of birth. People from South-East Asia are
less likely than Australian-born people to smoke, drink alcohol at risky or high-risk levels and be overweight or
obese. In contrast, people from Oceania, the united Kingdom and southern and eastern Europe are more likely to
be overweight or obese than those born in Australia.^24
The health of migrants approaches the health of the local population over time, as migrants’ habits and lifestyles
move towards those of the wider Australian community. Food habits may change out of choice, because of the
limited availability of traditional and familiar foods, or because of change in economic circumstances in Australia.
Similarly, financial and language difficulties may affect access to education and employment opportunities which
then affects income, health and nutrition literacy, and access to nutritious foods. Some migrants experience
disadvantages such as social isolation and poor housing, which can affect access to safe food and safe preparation
of food, and are generally in a relatively vulnerable position in their new environments, regardless of the type
of migration.^884
A8 Rural and remote Australians
Mortality rates increase as remoteness increases.^24 People living outside major cities are more likely to have
hypertension, high cholesterol and report drinking at risky or high-risk levels. They were also more likely to be
classified as overweight or obese. However rates of some cancers decrease slightly with remoteness.^24
underlying factors contributing to increased health risk include the lower levels of education, income and
employment of many rural communities, occupation risks from farm or mining work, greater levels of smoking
and risky alcohol use, less access to health services and staff, and the hazards of driving long distances.
Among specific dietary factors, people living outside major cities were less likely to eat too few vegetables
but more likely to have insufficient fruit intake.^24
In Australia, the cost of a basket of nutritious foods has been consistently found to be at least 30% higher
in remote areas compared to capital cities.317,999,1009,1011-1014 Among the most remote communities, costs are
highest in those areas greater than 2,000 km from capital cities, suggesting prices are influenced markedly
by transport costs.^317 The availability of nutritious foods is limited in regional and remote areas in northern
Australia.317,999,1009,1011-1014 But even in south-west Victoria, people living in more remote towns without a major
supermarket faced limited availability of healthy food basket items.^987 In New South Wales, the variety of fruit
and vegetables available also decreases with remoteness and also with decreasing socioeconomic status of
the community.^1031