23 January 2012:

From knowing how to halt weight gain to being able to identify the healthiest foods to eat - knowing the facts is important for your health.

Did you know that most of the salt you eat is in pre-packaged foods such as breads, biscuits, sauces and flavourings? Or that it's healthier to eat a piece of fruit than to drink a glass of fruit juice?

Did you know that young women are one of the groups in Australia gaining excess weight the fastest? They're gaining an average 6kg to 7kg per decade.

"But a few simple lifestyle changes in how we eat and in physical activity levels can prevent this weight creep and avoid a lifetime of dieting," says Terrill Bruere, dietitian at Jean Hailes for Women's Health.

To mark Australia's Healthy Weight Week (22 - 29 Jan 2012), Jean Hailes has developed a quiz where you can learn some fascinating and important health facts that highlight better food and lifestyle choices.

"For example, the quiz has some questions that highlight the importance of preventing weight creeping on and maintaining a stable weight," says Ms Bruere.

"If you're over a healthy weight, losing five to 10 per cent of your current weight can help prevent problems like diabetes."

The quiz also has questions that prove there is more to reducing blood pressure than just lowering sodium from salt and taking blood pressure medication, and highlights that carbohydrates and fats in our diet are not always the enemy.

"Most salt is in pre-packaged foods rather than in the salt you add to your food at the dinner table. But it's still a good idea not to add salt to your food and to instead enjoy food's natural flavours," says Ms Bruere.

"When it comes to carbohydrates and fats, it depends what kind they are, where they are coming from and how much overall food energy is being eaten above our needs. We all need some fats to survive, particularly the essential omega 3 fatty acids from foods like fish and nuts, which behave very differently in the body compared to less helpful saturated and trans fatty acids."

And do you know which is the healthiest choice out of a piece of fruit or a glass of fruit juice?

"A piece of fruit contains more fibre and nutrients, less sugar and is more filling than juice," says Ms Bruere.

"Making simple choices like eating more fruit, having less fruit juice, taking control of takeaway food choices, having smaller serving sizes and having a few more alcohol free days are enough to make a healthy difference in our lives."

For more up-to-date health information and to take the health quiz,
go to the Jean Hailes Health for Women website 
(www.healthforwomen.org.au/healthy-living/healthy-weight-quiz)

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For media

To interview Ms Bruere, please call Aleeza Zohar on (03) 9562 6771 or 0425 758 729 (mobile) or email  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it