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Guidelines for preventive activities in general practice 7th edition

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Full index

Introduction and user guide

Preventive activities before pregnancy

Genetic counselling and testing

Preventive activities in children and young people

Preventive activities in middle age

Preventive activities in older age

Communicable diseases

Prevention of chronic disease

Prevention of vascular and metabolic disease

Early detection of cancers

Psychosocial

Oral hygiene

Glaucoma

Urinary incontinence

Osteoporosis

Screening tests of unproven benefit

References

Appendices

Glossary

Acronyms

Acknowledgements

Disclaimer

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Nutrition

Nutrition age range table
Age 0 - 9 10 - 14 15 - 19 20 - 24 25 - 29 30 - 34 35 - 39 40 - 44 45 - 49 50 - 54 55 - 59 60 - 64 65 - 69 70 - 79 >80
  X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X

 

In adults ask how many portions of fruit and vegetables are eaten per day and advise to follow the NHMRC Dietary guidelines for Australian adults (B).237 Brief lifestyle advice should be given to reduce dietary fat (particularly saturated fat) and increase fruit and vegetable intake.238

Breastfeeding should be promoted as the most appropriate method for feeding infants and one that offers protection against infection and some chronic diseases.97 See Chapter 3 Children and young people.

Nutrition: Risk
Who is at higher risk of developing nutrition related complications What should be done? How often? Level of evidence and references

Average risk

  • All patients


Ask about the number of portions of fruit and vegetables eaten per day and the types of fat consumed.

All patients should be advised to follow the NHMRC Dietary guidelines for Australian adults


Every 2 years
II B 203,239
High risk
  • Those who are overweight or obese
  • Those with high cardiovascular absolute risk (>15%)
  • Those with a past or first degree family history of cardiovascular disease (including stroke) before 60 years of age
  • Those with type 2 diabetes or at high risk for diabetes
Provide lifestyle advice to reduce dietary saturated fat and increase fruit and vegetables intake (see SNAP guidelines) Provide self help nutrition education materials and/or refer to a dietician or group diet program
Every 6 months
II B 240-243

Nutrition: Intervention
Intervention Technique References
Vitamin supplements Vitamin supplementation is not of established value in asymptomatic individuals* (with the exception of folate in pregnancy) 244
Dietary guidelines for Australian adults

Enjoy a wide variety of foods:

  • eat plenty of vegetable, legumes and fruits
  • eat plenty of cereals (including breads, rice, pasta and noodles), preferably wholegrain
  • include lean meat, fish, poultry and/or alternatives
  • drink plenty of water

And take care to:

  • limit saturated fat and moderate total fat intake
  • choose foods low in salt
  • limit alcohol intake
  • consume only moderate amounts of sugars and foods containing added sugars

To lower their risk of coronary heart disease (CHD), all Australians should:

  • consume about 500 mg/day of combined DHA and EPA through a combination of the following:
    • 2–3 serves (150 g serve) of oily fish per week
    • fish oil capsules or liquid
    • food and drinks enriched with marine Ω-3 PUFA#
  • consume at least 2 g/day of ALA
  • follow government advice on fish consumption regarding local safety issues
  • prevent weight gain; be physically active and eat according to your energy needs
  • care for your food; prepare and store it safely
  • encourage and support breastfeeding

Note: There are also dietary guidelines for children and adolescents: Dietary guidelines for children and adolescents in Australia, incorporating the Infant feeding guidelines for health workers

 237
Encourage breastfeeding Encourage and support exclusive breastfeeding in the first 6 months, then the introduction of complementary foods and continued breastfeeding thereafter. It is recommended that breastfeeding continue until 12 months of age and thereafter as long as mutually desired 237
* Prevalence of nutritional deficiency is high in certain groups (eg. alcohol dependence, the elderly living alone and in institutions)
# Fish that live in cold water are rich in omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (Ω-3 PUFA), particularly docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosapentaenoic acid (DPA). Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) is a plant based Ω-3 PUFA that has many health benefits but does not benefit cardiovascular health as well as marine Ω-3 PUFA

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