Vegetable Consumption

Indicator Rationale

Fruit and vegetable intake is included in the Victorian Population Health Survey. Plant foods have been found to be protective in a range of health problems, including coronary heart disease, hypertension, some forms of cancer (including colon, lung and gastrointestinal cancers), obesity, and non-insulin dependent diabetes.  Inadequate consumption of fruit and vegetables has been identified as a risk factor in the development of a number of chronic diseases including coronary heart disease, stroke and many types of cancer, including cancers of the mouth, pharynx, esophagus, stomach and lungs.  Evidence regarding the protective effect of vegetables is stronger than that for fruit, although this may be due to the limited range of fruit available in some populations and/ or the greater amount of vegetables in most diets. 

Current Australian guidelines recommend a daily vegetable intake of three serves daily for person aged 12 to 18 years and five serves for persons aged 19 and over. The recommended number of servings of fruit and vegetables is higher for pregnant or breast feeding women (Department of Human Services, 2004).  

Data Source

Victorian Population Health Survey, 2008

Measure

The percentage of the adult population consuming the recommended intake of 3 serves of vegetables per day. The Victorian Population Health Survey was collected at the Local Government Area (LGA) level for the first time in 2008 and was previously collected at the regional level before this date.

Results for males and females within LGAs has not been made available as Relative Standard Errors for these estimates are greater than 25%. More than 90% of male and females results at the LGA level had associated Relative Standard Errrors of greater than 25%. 

Survey Question

How many serves of vegetables do you usually eat each day? The Victorian Population Health Survey asks for actual number of serves.  Women's Health Association uses response scale of none; 1 serve, 2-3 serves; 4 serves; 5 serves or more.

Reference

 Dietary Guidelines for Australians - National Health and Medical Research Council