Diet and Nutrition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander3 Case Study 2022

Diet and Nutrition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander1
DIET AND NUTRITION OF ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER PEOPLE
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Diet and Nutrition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander2
Introduction
The Australian indigenous population is composed of the Aboriginal and the Torres Strait
Islander people. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are predisposed to diet-related
chronic diseases which are primarily influenced by factors like geographical, low socio-
economic status and environment factors. In effect, these factors do have a negative impact on
their food security, nutritional status, lifestyle habits and health behaviours.
The Aboriginal and the Torres Strait Islander people frequently suffer higher mortality
rates when compared to the rest of Australian non-indigenous population. Dietary factors singly
have a contributory factor of over three times in causation of disease burden when compared to
the non-Indigenous population. As a consequence, the mortality rate among the Aboriginals and
the Torres Straits islander people is recorded among the highest worldwide with their life
expectancy of ten years less compared to the rest of non-indigenous population in Australia. This
situation is significantly attributable to the limited awareness of nutrition and limited access to
nutritious foods (Leonard et al. 2017). A recent study by Aquino, Hadgraft, Thompson, Marley
(2017) reveals that a third of children who do not consume an adequate amount of fruits and
vegetables are malnourished as a result of undernutrition. The study also found that children who
consume high levels of sugar-containing foods develop malnutrition due to overnutrition and are
obese. Access to fresh fruits and vegetables is limited due to poverty as evidence suggests that
48% of the employed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people were more likely to report

Diet and Nutrition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander3
adequate fresh fruit intake as compared to 39% of the unemployed people which shows a link
between dietary behaviour and socio-economic status of the indigenous people. Indigenous
people experiencing poverty among the indigenous population are likely to maximize more on
high-calorie foods which come with low-cost option as opposed to healthy options like fresh
fruits, grains and vegetables (Thurber et al. 2017).
Further, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people suffer the burden of Food
insecurity which can largely be attributed to environmental, physical and economic factors
prevailing in their lives characterized by limited access to food supplies, inability to afford
quality foods and limited access to nutritional education. Traditional foods form the primary
source of nutrition among the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people but in circumstances
where there is unavailability of traditional foods they rely on foods stored in community stores
(Temple & Russell, 2018). Traditionally Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people were
hunters and gatherers who got their food from hunting wild animals and fruits. After
colonization, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people domesticated animals and grew
food crops from which they get their food. The combination of meat from animals such as goats
and the grown food crops the ATSI get a balanced diet. Children who have access to a balanced
diet thrive well and achieve their developmental milestones in time compared to children who
lack a balanced diet and fail to thrive. Animal meat provides proteins which are bodybuilding
foods, and plants offer starch which is energy giving foods, and therefore these children grow
healthy.
The type of foods and feeding habits by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is
significantly influenced by their belief that all food has a meaning according to their traditions.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people largely depend on traditional bush food with women