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The Australian National Health Priority Areas highlight the seven major domains of health that most commonly affect Australians today. Each one reflects significant social and financial cost to Australian societies, and is therefore of national concern. Some diseases and conditions included in the seven Priority Areas are major causes of death in Australia, and others severely impact on the quality of life of individuals and their families. Australian governments, along with the National Health Priority Action Council, designated seven areas of health that were of greatest national concern. (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare [AIHW], 2005). These are: Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Conditions, Asthma, Cancer Control, Cardiovascular Health, Diabetes Mellitus, Injury Prevention and Control and Mental Health. Poor diet and nutrition, combined with physical inactivity are among some of the most significant factors contributing to the prevalence of these diseases and conditions in modern Australian society. (AIHW, 2005). Yet there are methods and strategies that could be adopted at both individual and societal levels to help reduce the impact of these issues on the Australian population.

There is a direct and obvious relationship between poor nutrition and poor health: if we don’t eat we die, and our bodies need nourishment to survive. Yet whilst many western countries continue to educate their population about the make-up of a healthy diet and which foods to avoid, many children come home from school only to be bombarded with television adverts directly targeting and encouraging them to consume junk food. This action cancels out any value that health education in schools may provide. Adults are also targeted with suggestions that high-sugar foods are actually “healthy energy foods” for children. An independent study carried out for the Cancer Council of Australia found that “most of the products promoted to children - and recalled by children...