A healthy diet is associated with improved health outcomes. Adults who follow a diet rich in fruits and vegetables and low in fat, sugars and salt/sodium are at a lesser risk of developing one or more cardiovascular diseases and certain types of cancer (Graf and Cecchini, 2017[1]). Healthy diet may also reduce the likelihood of being overweight or obese. In 2017, inadequate fruit and vegetable consumption led to an estimated 3.9 million deaths worldwide (Global Burden of Disease Collaborative Network, 2018[2]).
On average across OECD countries, over half (57%) of all adults consumed at least one piece of fruit per day in 2017 (Figure 4.8). Values for this metric are highest in Australia, Spain, New Zealand and Italy (greater than 75%). Conversely, Chile, Finland and Latvia recorded values below 40%. In all countries except Spain, women are more likely to consume fruit daily. This gender gap in fruit consumption was largest in Finland and Austria, with over a 20 percentage point difference.
The share of populations consuming vegetables daily was similar: 60% of adults, on average across the OECD. Countries with the highest rate of vegetable consumption are Australia, Korea, New Zealand and the United States, all of which recorded values greater than 90% (Figure 4.9). At the other end of the spectrum, this figure fell below 35% in Germany and the Netherlands. As with fruit consumption, women are more likely than men to eat at least one portion of vegetables per day (65% of women v 54% of men, on average). Daily vegetable consumption was higher among women than men in all countries other than Korea and the United States (where gender differences were minimal).
Physical activity is also important for leading a healthy lifestyle. Regular physical activity is associated with significant benefits such as improved bone and functional health, and reduced risk of various non-communicable diseases and depression (Warburton and Bredin, 2017[3]). Advances in technology in areas such as transport, communication and entertainment have contributed to declines in physical activity (Graf and Cecchini, 2017[1]).
About two in three adults (66%) meet the recommended guidelines for moderate physical activity, on average across 23 OECD countries (Figure 4.10). Adults are most likely to be sufficiently active in Sweden, Iceland, Norway and Denmark (over 75% of adults). Conversely, less than half of the adult population in Italy and Spain engage in the recommended amount of moderate physical activity. Other than Denmark, men are more likely to be physically active than women in all 23 OECD countries with comparable data.
