NUPA

Why are healthy eating and adequate physical activity so important?

Healthy eating and physical activity are essential for health and general well being. Evidence shows poor nutrition and physical inactivity together account for about 22% of the burden of disease and injury for Australians.

Nutrition and physical activity can improve health and reduce the risk of disease, illness and disability by:

Reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Lowering total blood cholesterol and triglycerides and increasing high density lipoproteins (or the ‘good’ cholesterol).
Lowering the risk of high blood pressure.
Lowering the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Helping people achieve and maintain a healthy weight.
Reducing the risk of developing colon, breast and stomach cancer.
Helping to maintain healthy bones, muscles and joints.
Helping to reduce the risk of developing osteoarthritis.
Helping older adults become stronger and better able to move about without falling or becoming excessively fatigued.
Reducing levels of depression and anxiety.
Promoting psychological well-being and reducing feelings of stress.

These health benefits can translate into significant health cost savings. Australia- wide, physical inactivity costs at least $400 million a year. Indirect health care costs and estimates suggest $8 million per year could be saved for every 1% increase in the proportion of adults that is sufficiently active. Increasing fruit and vegetable consumption by one serve per day would result in direct health care costs of $180 million a year.

Nutrition and Physical Activity (NUPA) Statistics

NSW Adult Health Survey 2006
The NSW Adult Health Survey 2006 provides information on health behaviours, health status, access to health services and social capital for people aged 16 years and over residing in NSW. An overview of the key nutrition and physical activity statistics for the north coast, rural NSW and the NSW population can be viewed at NSW Adult Health Survey 2006.

School nutrition and physical activity survey (SPANS)
In 2004, approximately 5,500 NSW school aged children in Kindy and years 2,4,6,8 and 10 were surveyed to provide current data on physical activity and eating patterns as well as risk factors for chronic disease. The NSW Schools Physical Activity and Nutrition Survey or SPANS provides a snapshot of the methods of the study and key results of the survey including: current data and trends on the prevalence of overweight and obesity, levels of physical activity, modes of travel to and from school, fundamental movement skills, sedentary behaviours, fitness levels, food habits and eating patterns, and markers for chronic disease.