title: Food and health economics in the 21st century.
abstract: People are living longer and with more pain-free and comfortable lives as we begin the 21st century in 2001. Life expectancy was just 53 years (for males) in the beginning of the 20th century and is now 78 years. One in four children born in 2000 are expected to live beyond 100 years. There are many reasons for such advancement: fewer accidents, particularly work and travel related; better diets; and more and better health care. Australia's health spending is around 8.4% of gross domestic product, ranking eighth in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, and has arguably one of the best value-for-money programs in the world. However, the make-up of the $50 billion expenditure in 2000 is reflecting changes from the past. We are moving away from institutional health care, embracing preventative care and 'alternative' approaches via fitness, diets, well-being programs and more natural remedies. Few, however, would suggest that pharmacology and surgery (including less invasive) are not important; they are. Food continues to play a vital role in our healthy lives. In 2000 we will expend approximately $90 billion on food and liquor prepared and consumed at home, or prepared and/or eaten out of the home. The latter is increasing as we outsource more and more of our meals (currently one in five). Our diet is changing. We are consuming more poultry, seafood, fruit and fruit products (including juices), vegetables, grain products and wine. We are consuming less red meat and meat products, eggs, oils and fats, sugars and beer. Our lifestyles are changing dramatically as we leave the Industrial Age further and further behind. The New Age began around 1965 (and should itself be displaced around 2040). Included in these changes are working wives, outsourcing of more and more household chores, embracing the Internet and electronic 'guardian angels' and much more. It promises to be an exciting, healthier and longer living new century.
authors.affiliation: IBISWorld.com, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: P K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Ruthven