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Australians overeating, choosing unhealthy food, not exercising enough: survey

Xinhua, June 22, 2015 Adjust font size:

Many Australians have admitted to regularly eating fast food, skipping breakfast and not doing enough exercise in alarming findings uncovered by a health and wellbeing survey released on Monday.

Participants in a Cancer Council Victoria survey revealed that they think poor eating habits are becoming "normal," and more than 85 percent of respondents think "occasional treats" had become everyday snack items.

The statistics showed that many Australians believe they are living a healthy lifestyle, but in reality they are not.

One in three Australians skip breakfast, which does more harm than good and contributes to overeating throughout the day, while only a third are exercising once a week at most.

Only one in 14 of those surveyed admitted to eating the recommended amount of vegetables, while half of respondents said they regularly snack on chocolate and biscuits. A quarter of the people surveyed said they eat takeaway at least every second day.

Heart Foundation Victoria CEO Diana Heggie said on Monday that "mindless eating" was contributing to poor eating habits and an unhealthy lifestyle.

"We've become accustomed to overeating and having unhealthy foods readily available. Many people also seem to be falling into the habit of 'mindless eating' which can add up to a lot of extra kilojoules which are difficult to burn off," Heggie said.

"The danger is that when you eat more than you need to and aren 't as active as you should be, fat can build up around your vital organs, putting you at risk of serious health problems."

Victoria's Health Minister Jill Hennessy said the survey would work to shift the attitude of Victorians and Australians that are leading an unhealthy lifestyle.

She said the statistics were alarming, and Australians should take note and learn to balance healthy eating habits with regular exercise.

"As a community, we need to work together to improve our attitudes, approaches and habits towards healthier food choices and being more active," Hennessy said.

"We all lead busy lives but it's so important we take care of ourselves and our health and wellbeing."

The Shape of Victoria survey will be undertaken annually from 2015 and will provide a benchmark for future surveys of Australian health. Endi