Health of the Australian Population - Report Example

Australia Health Survey Report Student’s Name Institution of Learning Date of submission Introduction It has been necessary to determine whether Australian population are involved in healthy eating habits or establish whether the population consumes certain nutrients1. In order to achieve these objectives, it has been necessary to measure characteristics of the population in terms of the constituents of the diets consumed, mineral composition of the foods consumed and the energy expenditures of the population. This paper presents a report of a study that was aimed at achieving the above objectives. Participants and methods Participants in this study were high school girls of whose various body characteristics were measured. The total number of participants was 123. The study involved taking measurements of raw data relating to waist size, height, BMI, % fat content and the corresponding descriptive statistics relating to the raw data. These included the mean, median, standard deviation and percentiles. This was followed by comparing the percentage of fats content between % fat skin fold and % fat (BIA). The next step involved collection of data relating to calcium in the bodies of participants in FFQ and 3DFR in mg/day. Descriptive statistics relating to this data was calculated. A correlation between Calcium FFQ against Calcium 3DFR was determined. This was followed by making a comparison of %EE using AAS and a 3-day activity diary. Standard deviations were obtained for these variables and standard error estimated. This was followed by determination of nutrients intake where nutrients were investigated for components such as alcohol, fats, carbohydrates, calcium, iron, folate, vitamin C and zinc. Descriptive statistics relating to these variables such as mean, media, and standard deviation were obtained. Probability of inadequate nutrient intake was measured and determined. The data of nutrients intake was represented using normal distribution curves and means and standard deviations. Results Descriptive statistics for various characteristics of participants were measured and tabulated as shown in Appendix A. It was found that the average height of the participants was 4.4 m, the average weight was 62.9 kg, the average waist circumference was 72.6 cm and the average BMI was 22.5 kg/m2. The average % fat using the skinfold method was 25.4% while the average fat using the BIA method was 24.3. Figure 1. Descriptve characteristsics for body composition of participants The results of the paired tests aimed at testing the difference between % fat 9skinfold) and % fat (BIA) were tabulated as shown below:   Mean N Std. Deviation Std. Error Mean % Fat Skinf 25.208 122 7.0064 .6317 % Fat BIA 24.259 123 7.6057 .6858 Figure 2. Results of the P-test Figure 3. Correlation between % fat (skinfold) versus % Fat (BIA) The results for the amounts of calcium consumed in mg/day was measured and descriptive statistics were obtained as shown below. Descriptive Statistics   N Minimum Max           Mean (mg/day) Std. Error Std. Dev Calcium FFQ 128 77.50 4185.00 746.5 41.80 472.4 Calcium 3DFR 128 52.80 1422.90 490.2 25.40 289.0               Figure 4. Descriptive statistics of Calcium FFQ and calcium 3DFR. The corresponding correlation between the variables was tabulated as shown below Correlation between Calcium FFQ vsCalcium 3DFR   CalciumFFQ Calcium3D   Pearson Correlation 1 .372** Sig. (2-tailed)   .000 N 128 128 Figure 5. Correlation between Calcium FFQ vs Calcium It was found that the minimum Energy expenditure (AAS) was 34.2 and (3 day diary) was 249.5 while the maximum for (AAS) was 19521 and 42700 for 3 day diary. The mean for AAs was 2580.05 while that of a (3 day diary) was 9663.90. Other descriptive statistics values are as tabulated in the figure below. Descriptive Energy Expenditure (kJ) (AAS Q) Energy Expenditure (kJ) (3 day diary) Number Obs 123 123 Missing 0 0 Min 34.2 249.5 Max 19521 42700 Median 1163.9 9150 Mean 2580.05 9663.90 SD 3458.13 4687.63 SEM 311.81 422.67 5th percentile 189.54 3730.12 25th percentile 592.3 7333 50th percentile 1163.9 9150 75th percentile 2599 11286.7 95th percentile 8547.28 18540 Figure 6. Descriptive Statistics for AAs and 3 day diary When the amount of various minerals consumptions were compared with the estimated average requirements, it was found that 84.3% of participants consumed below EAR requirements for Calcium, 72.87% consumed below EAR requirements for Folate, 10.08% consumed below EAR requirements for Zinc and 51.13% consumed below EAR requirements for Iron. Discussion In the measurements of raw data, it was found that the mean weight was 62.9kg, mean height was 4.4m, mean weight circumference was 72.6, mean BMI was 22.5, mean % fat (skinfold0 was 25.4 and mean % fat (BIA) was 24.3. According to these information are in compliance with Australian recommendations and Australian population trends. This is because the values are only slightly different from Australian recommendations but the difference in values does not have an impact due to the fact that it is a small difference. This implies that the population involved in this study is people who eat healthily and thus have normal body functions. The values of % fat when 4-skin Fold is used are slightly higher compared with the use of %BIA to estimate the percentage of fats. This can be contributed by the fact that % Fat (skinfold is more efficient in establishing the amounts of fats in the body3. In the measurements of amounts of Calcium FFQ and calcium 3DFR, it was found that Calcium FFQ had a higher mean in mg/day compared with calcium 3DFR. The results from either side are in compliance with Australian Health survey data recommendations which require that the amounts of calcium should not exceed 800 mg/liter. In the measurement of energy expenditure, it was found that 3 day diary approach resulted into a higher mean value compared with AAs Q method. This can be explained by the fact that 3 day diary expenditures contributes to a greater release of energy because there is a long duration during which at which results into the release of more amount of energy compared with AAs method. This is in compliance with Australian law regarding the extent to which the amounts of fats should be eaten based on the constituent of the food eaten2. The results of various minerals consumption and comparison with EAR requirements show that minerals that are consumed below the estimated average requirements include calcium, Folate and iron. This shows that there is the need for consumers in Australia to enhance consumption of foods rich in these minerals to improve their constituents in their bodies. Conclusion The above data shows that the Australian women are generally healthy because their overall weights and BMI are within the range for healthy people. The results also show that % fat skin-fold approach is more suitable in establishing the amounts of fats in the body. It is also found that most Australians do not consume the recommended amounts of calcium, folate and iron. This results into the recommendation that there is the need to improve consumption of foods rich in these minerals. In measurement of energy expenditure, it is found that the population of Australia is involved in activities that result into high energy expenditure. This leads to the recommendation that there is the need to reduce the level of energy expenditure among the population. References 1. A Disease-Based Comparison of Health Systems: What Is Best and at What Cost?Paris: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, 2003. Internet resource. 2. Australian Bureau of Statistics. National Health Survey: summary of results, Australia 2004-05 [Internet]. 2006 [cited 2009 Mar 16];  ABS cat. no. 4364.0 3. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Diabetes: Australian facts 2008 [Internet]. 2008 [cited 2008 Mar 15]; AIHW cat. no. CVD 40. 4. Australia's Food & Nutrition 2012. Canberra: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2012. Print. 5. Australia's Health 2012: The Thirteenth Biennial Health Report of the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Canberra: The Institute, 2012. Print. 6. Britt, Helena. General Practice Activity in Australia 2012-13: Beach : Bettering the Evaluation and Care of Health. , 2013. Print. 7. Lane, Shelly, and Anita C. Bundy. Kids Can Be Kids: A Childhood Occupations Approach. Philadelphia: F.A. Davis Co, 2012. Internet resource. 8. Moreno, Aznar L, Iris Pigeot, and Wolfgang Ahrens. Epidemiology of Obesity in Children and Adolescents: Prevalence and Etiology. New York: Springer, 2011. Print. 9. Palliative Care Services in Australia 2012. Canberra: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2012. Internet resource. 10. Strengthening Health Information Infrastructure for Health Care Quality Governance: Good Practices, New Opportunities and Data Privacy Protection Challenges. Paris: OECD, 2013. Internet resource. Appendices A. Descriptive statistics of participants   Height (m) Weight (kg) Waist Cir (cm) BMI (kg/m2) % Fat (Skinfolds) % Fat (BIA) Number Obs 123 123 123 123 122 123 Missing 0 0 0 0 1 0 Min 1.5 43.4 27.9 15.2 8.6 8.5 Max 169.0 104.3 114.0 33.0 44.4 45.3 Median 1.6 61.8 71.0 22.4 25.6 24.3 Mean 4.4 62.9 72.6 22.5 25.4 24.3 SD 21.1 12.3 11.1 3.4 6.6 7.4 SEM 10.6 6.2 5.6 1.7 3.3 3.7 5th percentile 1.5 47.2 60.1 17.8 13.7 11.5 25th percentile 1.6 53.7 67.0 20.1 22.0 19.7 50th percentile 1.6 61.8 71.0 22.4 25.6 24.3 75th percentile 1.7 69.0 78.3 23.9 29.0 29.3 95th percentile 1.8 87.0 93.0 30.7 38.2 36.1 B. Constituents of diets in the body of participants Variable N Missing Mean Std. Dev Std Error Serves Dairy 128 1 5.5 37.3 3.3 Calcium (mg/d) FFQ 128 1 746.5 472.4 41.8 Energy Intake (kJ) 3 d diary 129 0 7736.9 3070.4 270.3 % Fat 3 d diary 129 0 31.5 8.5 0.7 % Carb 3 d diary 129 0 44.9 13.4 1.2 % Prot 3 d diary 129 0 22.5 9.7 0.9 % Alcoh 3 d diary 129 0 0.7 2.0 0.2 Calcium (mg/d) 3 d diary 129 0 490.2 289.0 25.4 Iron (mg/d ) 3 d diary 129 0 9.4 5.5 0.5 Folate (ug/d) 3-d diary 129 0 271.8 190.9 16.8 Vit C (mg/d) 3 d diary 129 0 112.8 96.2 8.5 Zinc (mg/d) 3 d diary 129 0 9.4 15.5 1.4 C. Percentage Consumption below the Estimated Average Requirements   Using 3 day record only       N below EAR % below EAR         Cut-point method Calcium 109 84.50%   Folate 94 72.87%   Vitamin C 13 10.08%   Zinc women 54 41.86%   Iron Women   51.13% Using Probability approach for iron(see below)                     Read More