National dietary survey of adults, Australia, 1983

The National Dietary Survey of Adults was conducted in 1983 as a component of the Risk Factor Prevalence Study conducted by the National Heart Foundation in that year (see SSDA Study No. 414). The specific aims of the survey were: to collect dietary intake data to determine the food consumption and nutrient intake of a national sample of Australian adults; to compare the intake of nutrients and specific foods in various sub-groups in this population; and to determine the relationship between diet patterns of the sub-groups and their body mass index, blood lipid levels, hypertension and other health factors. For the dietary section of the survey project, a range of demographic information was collected, which included: sex, age, region and country of birth, length of residence in Australia, highest level of education, employment status, occupation status and occupation, whether currently pregnant, use of vitamin supplements and saly intake, and usual way of eating. Respondents were then asked to complete a 24 hour dietary recall schedule with the assistance of an interviewer, using standardised techniques such as food models, calibrated containers and geometric models as aids to assess food intake. There are two data files: a dietary intake file, which provides basic information on each food group consumed and amounts; and a dietary and nutrient intake file which gives more detailed components of the nutrients making up the individual food groups.