AUSTRALIA | More than half of all Australians are now using digital tools to track their overall health, from food intake to steps and sleep.
The research for the fourth edition of the Living Healthier Report from Woolworths Group's health and wellness platform, Healthylife, analysed four years' worth of supermarket transactions and customer surveys.
It also found:
- Australians are buying more vegetables: There has been a slight increase in vegetable purchases, with potatoes, tomatoes, frozen vegetables, canned vegetables and carrots making up the majority of the vegetable purchases;
- Sleep is a priority: 44 percent of Australians report improving their sleep as a health priority;
- Seeking medical advice on social media: 21 percent of people seek advice from qualified health professionals to find health information.
- A healthy shop can be cheaper: The research showed that when shoppers align their weekly shop to the Australian Dietary Guidelines, they can save, on average, eight percent, or around AUD 20 every week (based on a family of four).
"It’s great to see there has been an increase in vegetable consumption. Eating one additional serving of vegetables daily can reduce the risk of long-term illness by 14 percent,” said Simone Austin, Chief Health Officer of Healthylife.
“However, we still have a long way to go to ensure we’re meeting the recommended daily 5-6 servings of vegetables, as our data shows that Australians are currently only purchasing 2.8 servings per day.
The research also found that more Australians are turning to digital tools to help with sleep, with 16 percent of respondents stating they use sleep-tracking devices such as watches or rings.
“Aside from nutrition, improving sleep was the number one non-food-related concern for Australians, and it’s exciting to see how digital tools can help us better understand our sleep patterns,” added Austin.
“This can help keep us more accountable to our sleep routines, as well as provide valuable information to health professionals to be alerted to any possible serious sleep concerns.”
Other key findings from the report include:
- Technology is improving access to healthcare: Telehealth and online health information are becoming increasingly important, particularly for those in remote areas.
- Education and empowerment through technology: Digital tools like the Woolworths Fresh Food Kids e-Discovery Tours are engagingly educating children about healthy eating habits, with more than 34,000 participating in F24.
Woolworths is committed to increasing the number of healthier choices in customers’ baskets. HealthyLife, part of Woolworths Group, was launched in 2021. It is a digital health offering with access to trusted advice from health professionals, health tracking, and a specialised range of health products.
