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A therosclerosis has its origins in childhood and tracking of risk factors for cardiovascular disease from childhood to adult life is re~ognised.'-~ Adoption of healthy behaviours early in life has been encouraged with the aim of reducing later risk of cardiovascular d i~e a s e .~ In childhood, dietary behaviour is largely influenced by family eating patterns but, during adolescence, changes in health-related behaviour and attitudes affect dietary choices in young Diet-related behaviour in young adults is likely to influence both their own health and that of their children. It is therefore important to provide a basis for nutritional health promotion in young adults by documenting their dietary practices and identifying areas where strategies can be focused. In this study, we examined cross-sectional data obtained from 1 8-year-old Western Australians to compare their diet-related behaviour with national dietary guidelines and to identify groups at risk for sub-optimal dietary behaviours. Subjects and methodsIn 1994, acohort of 18-year-olds who had been participating for nine years in a longitudinal study of cardiovascular risk factors were re-surveyed.8 In 1985, when participants were nine years old, surveys began at Perth schools, randomly chosen after stratification by socio-economic group, at which all children in Year 6 were invited to take part. School-based surveys continued at three-yearly intervals. Initial recruitment included 1,066, 9-year-old children and in 1988, further recruiting at randomly chosen schools increased the sample size to 1,565 students. Participants were re-surveyed in 1991 without additional recruitment. Electronic databases and previous known addresses were used to trace previous participants for the most recent survey in 1994. They were invited to participate by letters explaining the importance of continuing to take part in the study and including consent forms for their own signature if they had reached their 18th birthday or to be signed by their parent or guardian for younger subjects. The study was approved by the University of Western Australia Committee for Human Rights.Between July and September 1994, dietary intakes were assessed using two consecutive weekday 24-hour diet records. Subjects were familiar with this procedure, having completed diet records in previous surveys. Foods were either weighed or measured before consumption using cups, spoons or rulers. Nutrient content was determined using Xyris software (Xyris, Brisbane, Queensland) which is based on N U n A B 9 1-92.y Data are presented as the mean of the intake over the two days of the diet records.Diet records included alcohol consumption for this two-day period. Questionnaires elicited whether participants were smokers, with even occasional smoking leading to classification as a smoker based on the findings of Owen et al. showing that healthrelated behaviours in low-rate smokers resemble those of smokers rather than nonsmokers.I0 Usual drinking habits were also elicited by questionnaire, with participants bei...