But according to the International Food Information Council, the age group between 25 and 34 were the most health conscious.
The age group of people 25 to 34 years old (Millennials) appeared to be the most health conscious according to the study.
According to results from a survey of 2,000 adults in the US (split evenly from Gen Z to baby boomers), Gen Z was the most worried about their health preventing them from experiencing everything they'd like to do in life (75 percent, versus baby boomers at 63 percent).
Millennials and Generation X are the most health aware customers, according to the International Food Information Council Foundation, which conducted a survey in which individuals were questioned about healthy choices in their food and then split into age and generation groups.
Older adults generally have lower calorie needs, but similar or even increased nutrient needs compared to younger adults. This is often due to less physical activity, changes in metabolism, or age-related loss of bone and muscle mass.
As we get older, it is common for our appetite to get smaller and we may not feel like eating. If you're underweight and your appetite has decreased, it's still important to get all the energy and nutrients that your body needs.
"The Aussie climate definitely drives a more active lifestyle simply because we tend to spend more time outdoors. We also have access to beautiful fresh produce all year round, which means it's easier to make better food choices and nourish our bodies in the right way."
Australian health compared internationally
Australia performs above average or better than many countries – we have a more desirable rank in terms of life expectancy at birth, cardiovascular disease deaths, infant mortality, perceived health status, and tobacco smoking in the OECD.
Millennials (born 1980-2000) are the largest and most educated generation. But, they are also the most unhealthy.
A healthier generation
With the exception of family, millennials value health the most.
Gen Z respondents were 1.4 to 2.3 times more likely to report that they had been diagnosed with a mental-health condition and 1.9 to 4.1 times more likely to be diagnosed with a substance-use disorder than both Gen Xers and baby boomers.
When measured by average wealth, Australia is fourth behind Switzerland, the United States and Hong Kong, reflecting that wealth is more evenly distributed in Australia than in those countries. Australia had about 2.2 million millionaires (calculated in US dollars) in 2021, up from 1.8 million millionaires in 2020.
1. Sydney, NSW. Taking first place in this year's healthiest city rankings is Sydney, coming number one in the majority of the different categories. They also place the highest priority on their wellness compared to the rest of Australia, with 70% of Sydneysiders stated that wellness is a high priority for them.
Australia ranks first among OECD countries for equity and healthcare outcomes, and holds third place for overall healthcare performance, behind Norway and the Netherlands.
According to a study published in medical journal The Lancet, obesity rates in Australia are rising faster than anywhere else in the world. Almost two in three adults are now overweight and, alarmingly, by 2020 one-third of Australians over 15 are predicted to be obese.
Australia ranks 7th on the OECD Better Life Index, based on living conditions and quality of life.
The rise in obesity has been attributed to poor eating habits in the country closely related to the availability of fast food since the 1970s, sedentary lifestyles and a decrease in the labour workforce.
The ABS reported that two thirds of Aussies are overweight or obese that means 12.5 million people nationwide have a bulging waistline! That means over half of Australian's are considered overweight or obese! According to the Heart Foundation this is the break down via location: South Australia 65.8%
This isolation also reduced deaths from influenza and other viruses that travellers normally bring in from overseas, he says. Another reason for Australia's high life expectancy is that its health system “ranks quite highly across a number of areas compared with many other countries”, says Adair.
47% of Australians had one or more chronic conditions. Over the last decade the prevalence of chronic conditions increased (from 42%). Females aged 15 years and over were more likely than males to have a chronic condition (57% compared to 51%).
At the end of the study period, adolescents (12-19 years old) had the worst diet of three age categories, with 67 percent found to have a poor diet, compared with 53 percent of children aged 6-11 and 40 percent of children aged 5 and under.
The researchers found that people who cut their calories slowed the pace of their aging by 2% to 3%, compared to people who were on a normal diet. That translates, Belsky said, to a 10% to 15% reduction in the likelihood of dying early. "We all have the power to change the trajectories of aging," he said.
“As we age we generally are less active,” says Dr. Hodges. “On average people over the age of 60, and certainly older than 70, have a lower need for energy than when they were younger because they expend less energy, with energy being calories. Generally speaking, their caloric needs are lower because they do less.”