DIETING

Health and body image are among a range of factors that can influence what and how people eat. Dieting may be one response to these particular concerns. Around one in eight (12%) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 15 years and over reported that they were on a diet to lose weight or for some other health reason. Those aged 15-30 years were less likely to be on a diet than those in the older age groups (6.9% compared with 14% of 31-50 year olds and 18% of those 51 years and over). A similar proportion of males and females were on a diet (see Table 13.1).

Two thirds (66%) of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who reported being on a diet indicated they were on a diet to lose weight (including for health reasons as well as to lose weight), while the remainder were on a diet for other health reasons (34%).

Almost half (48%) of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people on a diet described the type of diet they were on as Weight loss / low calorie, with similar rates for male and female dieters.



Was there a difference by remoteness?

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 15 years and over in non-remote areas were equally likely as those in remote areas to report being on a diet. However, half (50%) of the dieters in remote areas reported being on a diet for health reasons other than weight loss, compared with less than one third of the population in non-remote areas (31%) (see Table 13.1).

How does this compare with non-Indigenous people?

The proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people on a diet is comparable to that of non-Indigenous people on a diet (12% and 13% respectively).

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander dieters were more likely than non-Indigenous dieters to be on a Diabetic diet (20% compared with 8.3% respectively). However, non-Indigenous dieters were more likely to be on a Low fat / cholesterol diet (22% compared with 15% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander dieters).