The National Health Survey 2020-21 was collected online during the COVID-19 pandemic and is a break in time series. Data should be used for point-in-time analysis only and can’t be compared to previous years. See Methodology for more information.
Dietary behaviour
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Key statistics and data about child and adult consumption of fruit, vegetables, sugar sweetened, and diet drinks
Reference period
2020-21 financial year
Released
17/06/2022
Key statistics
- 6.1% of adults ate the recommended amount of both fruit and vegetables
- 8.5% of children ate the recommended amount of both fruit and vegetables
- 6.4% of adults consumed sugar sweetened drinks daily
- 1.2% of children consumed diet drinks daily
Adult fruit and vegetable consumption
A balanced diet, including sufficient fruit and vegetables, can reduce the risk of developing conditions such as heart disease and diabetes. The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) 2013 Australian Dietary Guidelines (ADG) recommend a minimum number of serves of fruit and vegetables each day, depending on a person's age and sex, to ensure good nutrition and health[1]. More information about the guidelines is available in the Methodology.
NHMRC 2013 Australian Dietary Guidelines
| Age group (years) | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2-3 | 4-8 | 9-11 | 12-13 | 14-18 | 19-50 | 51-70 | 70 years and over | |
| Fruit | ||||||||
| Males | 1 | 1.5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Females | 1 | 1.5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Vegetables | ||||||||
| Males | 2.5 | 4.5 | 5 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 6 | 5.5(a) | 5 |
| Females | 2.5 | 4.5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
a. Rounded up to 6 serves in published data.
In 2020-21, of people aged 18 years and over:
- Over two in five (44.8%) met the fruit recommendation (2 or more serves)
- Almost one in ten (8.7%) met the vegetable recommendation (5 to 6 serves, depending on age and sex)
- 6.1% met both the fruit and vegetable recommendation.
Women aged 18 years and over were more likely to meet any of the recommendations than men:
- 48.3% of women met the fruit recommendation compared to 41.2% of men
- 12.8% of women met the vegetable recommendation compared to 4.4% of men
- 9.0% of women met both recommendations compared to 2.9% of men.
Adult sugar sweetened and diet drink consumption
Selected Sugar Sweetened and Diet drinks are classified as a discretionary food item as they tend to have little nutritional value. A limited intake of these items is recommended in the NHMRC 2013 ADG. High and frequent intake of these drinks may lead to adverse health outcomes, such as dental cavities, high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and an increased risk of weight gain in both adults and children. Limiting the intake of discretionary foods such as Selected Sugar Sweetened and Diet drinks may lead individuals to better manage adverse health conditions[2].
Definitions
The definition of selected sweetened drinks used in the National Health Survey (NHS) 2020-21 includes both selected sugar sweetened drinks and diet drinks:
- Sugar sweetened drinks includes soft drinks (including those in ready to drink alcoholic beverages), cordials, sports drinks or energy drinks. This definition excludes 'sugar free' drinks, fruit juice, flavoured milk, meal replacement shakes, water or flavoured water, or coffee/ tea. Sugar sweetened drinks were reported based on usual consumption per day/week.
- Diet drinks are drinks that have artificial sweeteners added rather than sugar. They include diet soft drinks (including those in ready to drink alcoholic beverages), cordials, sports drinks and energy drinks. This definition excludes non-diet drinks, fruit juice, flavoured milk, meal replacement shakes, water or flavoured water, or coffee/tea flavoured with sugar replacements such as 'Equal'. Diet drinks were reported based on usual consumption per day/week.
Recommended consumption of sugar sweetened drinks
The NHMRC 2013 ADG provides Australians with recommendations on the amounts and types of foods that are required to maintain health and well-being as well as reduce the risk of diet related conditions and chronic disease. Guideline 3 recommends individuals 'limit intake of foods and drinks containing added sugars such as confectionary, sugar sweetened soft drinks and cordials, fruit drinks, vitamin waters, energy and sports drinks’[3].
Consumption of sugar sweetened and diet drinks in adults
In 2020-21, of people aged 18 years and over:
- 6.4% consumed sugar sweetened drinks daily
- 7.1% consumed diet drinks daily
- Six in ten (59.7%) did not usually consume either sugar sweetened or diet drinks.
Overall, men aged 18 years and over consumed sugar sweetened and diet drinks more than women:
- 8.5% of men consumed sugar sweetened drinks daily compared to 4.5% of women
- 8.0% of men consumed diet drinks daily compared to 6.1% of women
- 53.4% of men did not usually consume either sugar sweetened or diet drinks compared to 65.6% of women.
Child fruit and vegetable consumption
Healthy behaviours established early in life, such as adequate physical activity and a balanced diet with sufficient fruit and vegetables, may continue into adolescence and adulthood. These behaviours may reduce a person's risk of developing conditions such as heart disease and diabetes[1].
NHMRC 2013 Australian Dietary Guidelines
The NHMRC 2013 ADG recommend a minimum number of serves of fruit and vegetables each day for children, depending on their age and sex, to ensure good nutrition to support growth and development[1]. More information about the guidelines is available in the Methodology.
In 2020-21, of children aged 2-17 years:
- Three in five (62.6%) met the fruit recommendation
- 9.0% met the vegetable recommendation
- 8.5% met both the fruit and vegetable recommendations
- 5.3% did not eat fruit and 4.1% did not eat vegetables.
Younger children aged 2-3 years were more likely to meet the fruit or vegetable recommendations compared to children aged 14-17 years:
- 93.8% met the fruit recommendation compared to 44.2%
- 27.7% met the vegetable recommendation compared to 5.0%
- 27.7% met both the fruit and vegetable recommendations compared to 4.7%.
Child sugar sweetened and diet drink consumption
In 2020-21, of children aged 2-17 years:
- Most did not consume sugar sweetened (79.4%) or diet drinks (90.4%) at all
- 3.4% consumed sugar sweetened drinks daily
- 1.2% consumed diet drinks daily
- Younger children aged 2-3 years were more likely to not consume either sugar sweetened or diet drinks compared to older children aged 14-17 years (94.6% compared to 54.6%).
Data downloads
Dietary behaviour
Data files
TABLE 1 Summary health characteristics by age and sex.xlsx
TABLE 4 Selected long-term health conditions by health risk factors and health status.xlsx
TABLE 5 Health risk factors by population characteristics.xlsx
TABLE 9 Consumption of fruit, vegetables, and sugar sweetened and diet drinks.xlsx
TABLE 10 Childrens consumption of fruit, vegetables, and sugar sweetened and diet drinks.xlsx
TABLE 13 Stressors by age and sex and selected characteristics.xlsx
Footnotes
- National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), ‘Australian Dietary Guidelines’, https://www.eatforhealth.gov.au/guidelines; accessed 12/05/2022.
- National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), ‘Australian Dietary Guidelines: Discretionary food and drink choices’, https://www.eatforhealth.gov.au/food-essentials/discretionary-food-and-drink-choices; accessed 12/05/2022.
- National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), ‘Australian Dietary Guidelines: Fat, salt sugars, and alcohol’, https://www.eatforhealth.gov.au/food-essentials/fat-salt-sugars-and-alcohol; accessed 12/05/2022.
Previous catalogue number
This release previously used catalogue number 4364.0.00.013.
Post release changes
21/07/2022 – This release contains:
Data revision to 'Did not meet 2014 physical activity guidelines’, ‘Zero minutes of physical activity’, ‘Did not meet 2014 physical activity guidelines excluding workplace activity’, ‘Migrant status’, and ‘Family composition of household’ in table 5.