Food intake in an Australian Aboriginal rural community facing food and water security challenges: A cross-sectional survey

Aims: Researchers were invited by Aboriginal leaders to collaborate on this study which aimed to assess food intake in the Walgett Aboriginal community to inform long-term community-led efforts to improve food and water security and nutrition. 

Methods: Aboriginal adults living in or near Walgett, a remote community in north-west NSW, Australia, completed an adapted Menzies Remote Short-item Dietary Assessment Tool, which was administered verbally and face-to-face in early 2022. Aboriginal people were involved in the survey design, training and collection, and analysis of data. Descriptive statistics were tabulated, overall and by gender, age, and location. Differences by sex, age group (18-44 years versus ≥45 years), and location (Walgett town or other) were determined using a chi-square test. 

Results: A total of 242 participants completed the survey; 55% were female. Three-quarters of participants reported meeting the recommendations for discretionary foods (73%); however, more than half (56%) exceeded the recommended maximum serves of sugar-sweetened beverages. The proportion of participants meeting core food group guidelines was 72% for meat, 36% for fruit, 20% for bread and cereals, 6% for dairy, and 3% for vegetables. Overall, none of the participants met the recommended serves of all food groups outlined in the Australian Dietary Guidelines. 

Conclusion: Findings show that Walgett Aboriginal community members surveyed were consuming a healthier diet than national data reported for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia. However, none of the participants were meeting all of the national dietary guidelines, placing them at increased risk of diet-related chronic disease. Local Aboriginal community-led efforts to improve food and water security should include specific strategies to improve nutrition.