The City of Moonee Valley lies within the North and West Metropolitan Victorian health region and is part of the Inner North West Primary Care Partnership. Moonee Valley is located in the Inner North-Western area of Melbourne and as of June 30 2007, had a population of 112,722, with adults comprising 80.0% of the population, compared with 77.1% for Victoria. More than three out of ten residents (32.1%) were aged 50 years or older, compared with 30.9% for Victoria. There was a smaller percentage (30.4%) of low income households (combined annual income of less than $33,500) compared with 30.6% for Victoria. Female Life Expectancy at birth in 2006 was 85.7 years, higher than the Victorian figure of 84.3 years, however male Life Expectancy at birth in 2006 was 79.5 years, which was similar to the Victorian figure of 80.0 years.
The current Australian guidelines recommend a minimum daily vegetable intake of five serves for persons aged 19 years and over, where a serve is defined as half a cup of cooked vegetables or a cup of salad vegetables. The recommended minimum daily fruit intake is two serves for persons aged 19 years and over, where a serve is defined as one medium piece or two small pieces of fruit or one cup of diced pieces.
In 2008, 12.9% of females and 2.8% of males in the City met the dietary guidelines for vegetable consumption, similar to Victorian females and males (10.7% and 5.0% respectively). More than six in ten females (60.2%) and 47.0% of males in the City met the dietary guidelines for fruit consumption, also similar to Victorian females and males (53.5% and 41.0% respectively). Females in the City were also more likely to meet the dietary guidelines for consumption of vegetables and combined fruit and vegetables compared with males in the City.