AIA Australia Healthy Living Index highlights

Did you know that 78 per cent of Australian women and 64 per cent of Australian men want to lose weight? Or what about that 40 per cent of people have tried a diet at some point, but most give up after less than three months? These are just some of the statistics to come from the AIA Australia Healthy Living Index, released in October. The index provides a snapshot into the attitudes of Australians in regards to health and lifestyle. Overall it seems that we are a pretty positive bunch, with 67 per cent of us motivated to be healthy to "enjoy better quality life" and 40 per cent aware that staying well helps us stay happy, minimising the risk of mental illness. However the index also highlighted some barriers to good health, including the nine to five workday, a lack of sleep and the cost of nutritional foods. It seems that we have difficulty fitting everything in. With work taking up most of our day, it can be hard to fit in exercise, cook a healthy meal, spend quality time with friends and family and still hop into bed at a reasonable hour. The good news is, AIA Australia chief medical officer Dr Pramodh Nathaniel has some advice for how people can improve their wellbeing and 'have it all'. He said that often it comes down to effective time management and organisation. For example, he recommends that people try to incorporate 30 minutes of exercise into their daily routine. Once this habit has been ingrained - be it a walk before work or a lunchtime jog - it will become easier to uphold. Dr Nathaniel also suggests that people limit their intake of foods with low nutritional value, such as sugar and highly refined carbohydrates. It is important to replace these options with healthier choices, like fruits, vegetables, wholegrains, nuts, legumes and proteins. There are plenty of foods and flavours on the market that are both good for you and delicious, such as Naturally Sweet Stevia - a healthy sugar alternative. You just have to be prepared to look around and explore different options!