factors influencing aus health status

Question 1

what are the factors influencing health status in Australia

Answer 1

• smoking/vaping
• alcohol
• overweight/obesity
• low intake of fibre, and the under-consumption of fruit and vegetables and dairy foods
• high intake of fat, salt and sugar

Question 2

what interventions contribute to the decrease in smoking and vaping?

Answer 2

• advertising bans
• bans on smoking indoors and increasingly in outdoor public spaces
• plain packaging
• price increases
• restrictions on sales to minors
• public education
• media campaigns

Question 3

Binge drinking

Answer 3

drinking four or more standard drink in one sitting.

Question 4

fibre

Answer 4

a type of carbohydrate that is not absorbed by the body. It is found in all foods of plant origin and travels through the digestive system, promoting feelings of fullness (satiety) and assisting in keeping the digestive tract clean by adding bulk to faeces.

Question 5

antioxidants

Answer 5

compounds in foods that neutralise free radicals in the body (free radicals damage healthy cells in the body and can cause cancers and CVD).

Question 6

Atherosclerosis

Answer 6

The build up of plaque, caused by excess cholesterol, resulting in hardening and loss of elasticity of blood vessels.

Question 7

what are the two types of cholesterol

Answer 7

low-density lipoprotein (LDL), also known as ‘bad’ cholesterol
high-density lipoprotein (HDL), also known as ‘good’ cholesterol.

Question 8

saturated and trans fats

Answer 8

‘bad’ fats - increase LDL cholesterol levels in the blood and therefore increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. Trans fats can also decrease levels of HDL cholesterol.

Question 9

Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated

Answer 9

‘healthier fats’ - because they can reduce the levels of LDL cholesterol in the body and therefore reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Question 10

high bmi

Answer 10

When consumed in excess over a period of time, this can lead to an increase in body weight and increased risk of obesity and related conditions.

Question 11

hypertension (High intake of Fat, Salt and Sugar)

Answer 11

When consumed in excess, sodium can cause the water to be draw out of the cells into the bloodstream, leading to an increase in blood volume and increased blood pressure, this can increase the risk of hypertension.

Question 12

Cardiovascular disease (High intake of Fat, Salt and Sugar)

Answer 12

A high intake of salt can lead to cardiovascular disease. Increased blood volume and hypertension force the heart to work harder. Heart failure can result if the heart cannot keep up with demand from the body. Hypertension associated with excess sodium intake contributes to higher rates of stroke and heart attack.

Question 13

Osteoporosis (High intake of Fat, Salt and Sugar)

Answer 13

Excess sodium in the diet also causes calcium to be leaked from the bones in the urine. This decreases bone density and increases the risk of osteoporosis

Question 14

type 2 diabetes (Low intake of fibre)

Answer 14

Evidence shows that people with a low intake of fibre have a significantly higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Fibre reduces the absorption of glucose, which is protective in relation to type 2 diabetes as it takes pressure off the pancreas.

Question 15

colorectal cancer (Low intake of fibre)

Answer 15

Fibre adds bulk to faeces and assists in keeping the digestive system clean, reducing the risk of abnormal cells developing, especially in the colon and rectum.

Question 16

Cardiovascular disease (Low intake of fibre)

Answer 16

In the digestive system, soluble fibre attaches to particles of LDL cholesterol and helps to excrete them. As a result of this process, soluble fibre helps to decrease levels of cholesterol in the body

Question 17

cancer (Under-consumption of fruit and vegetables)

Answer 17

Vegetables and fruit are a source of antioxidants, which work to reduce the impact offree radicalsin the body. Free radicals are molecules that can damage body cells and increase rates of morbidity and mortality due to conditions such as cardiovascular disease and cancer.

Question 18

overweight and obesity (Under-consumption of fruit and vegetables)

Answer 18

Consuming fruit and vegetables instead ofenergy densefoods can assist with weight management and reduce the risk of high body mass index. Vegetables are also a rich source of fibre, which further assists in reducing the risk of weight gain as it helps you feel full.

Question 19

neural tube defects (Under-consumption of fruit and vegetables)

Answer 19

Nutrients found in vegetables, such as folate, play a significant role in the development of the brain and spinal cord during the prenatal stage of the lifespan. Underconsumption of vegetables before and during pregnancy increases the risk of neural tube defects such as spina bifida

Question 20

dental caries (Underconsumption of Vegetables, Fruit and Dairy)

Answer 20

Underconsumption of dairy often means teeth are not as strong as they could be due to lack of calcium, increasing the risk of dental caries

Question 21

Osteoporosis (Underconsumption of Vegetables, Fruit and Dairy)

Answer 21

The main nutritional contribution of dairy is the provision of calcium, a mineral essential for a range of functions in the human body including the strengthening of bones and the prevention of osteoporosis — a bone disease characterised by weak, porous bones.