Differences in health service use between infants of English speaking and non-English speaking backgrounds

Australian infants from non-English speaking backgrounds (NESB) are less likely to use maternal and child health services, GPs and hospital outpatient clinics than infants from English speaking backgrounds (ESB).

Pregnant women need more dietary guidance

A recent study in the journal Nutrition and Dietetics has shown that although pregnant women regard eating a nutritious and healthy diet during pregancy as important, most have poor quality diets lacking in the recommended daily serves of fruits and vegetables. Over one third of them also gained more weight than recommended (1).

Sodium in packaged and takeaway foods and targets for breads and cereals

Sodium is in the spotlight again, with the release of Food Standards Australia New Zealand's (FSANZ) recent survey on the sodium levels in packaged and takeaway foods (1) and the Government's announcement that sodium reduction targets for breads and ready to eat breakfast cereals have been set (2).

Reducing obesity in early childhood - results of Romp & Chomp

The community wide early childhood intervention program, Romp & Chomp, has shown that the promotion of healthy eating and active play reduces childhood overweight and obesity and improves children's diets (1).