Risks in diet — youth survey

Press, 2 November 1989, Page 18

Risks in diet — youth survey

NZPA-AAP Sydney About one in five children in Australia risks developing heart disease and other serious illness in later life because of poor diet, according to a national survey. The study of more than 5000 children aged from 10 to 15 years found soft drinks, lollies, sweet foods and takeaways accounted for more than one-fifth of their energy intake. Most ate too much fat and not enough essential vitamins and minerals such as thiamin, riboflavin, niacin and zinc.

Teen-age girls were at particular risk of nutrient deficiencies, with 70 per cent having a calcium intake below the recommended daily intake. Experts consider an adequate calcium intake essential in preventing later development of the crippling bone disease osteoporosis. Announcing the results of the study in Sydney, the Federal Health Minister, Mr Neal Blewett, said it suggested a need to cwisider carefully issues sirch as developing guidelines for advertising food

on television. However, he preferred more positive options such as providing incentives for food manufacturers to boost their products’ nutritional content and logo stickers to help consumers recognise healthy foods. A co-author of the study and the chief Federal Health Department nutritionist, Ruth English, said the studies identified teen-age girls who were watching their weigh U-as onerof the most worrying groups.