What do we know about the nation’s health
Mental and behavioural conditions Mental or behavioural condition - 4.8 million (20.1%) Anxiety-related condition - 3.2 million (13.1%) Depression or feelings of depression (10.4%)
The 2017-18 National Health Survey is the most recent in a series of Australia-wide health surveys conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The survey was designed to collect a range of information about the health of Australians, including: prevalence of long-term health conditions; health risk factors such as smoking, overweight and obesity, alcohol consumption and physical activity; and demographic and socioeconomic characteristics. The survey was conducted in all states and territories and across urban, rural and remote areas of Australia (excluding very remote areas) from July 2017 to June 2018. The survey included around 21,000 people in over 16,000 private dwellings.
General health Excellent or very good health 15 years and over (56.4%) Fair or poor health (14.7%) Adults experienced high or very high levels of psychological distress - 2.4 million (13.0%)
High blood pressure Australians aged 18 years and over had a measured high blood pressure reading - 4.3 million people (22.8%)
Overweight and obesity Adults overweight or obese - 12.5 million (67.0%) Males overweight or obese (74.5%) Females overweight or obese (59.7%) Children aged 5-17 years overweight or obese (24.9%; 17% overweight, 8.1% obese)
Fruit and vegetable consumption Met guidelines for recommended daily serves of fruit (2 or more serves; 51.3%) Met guidelines for serves of vegetables (5-6 or more serves for men depending on age, and 5 or more for women; 7.5%) Adults met both fruit and vegetable recommendations (5.4%) Children aged 2-17 years met guidelines for recommended number of serves of both fruit and vegetables (6.0%) Children ate recommended serves of fruit (73.0%)
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Chronic conditions One or more chronic conditions (47.3%) Chronic health conditions experienced in Australia were:
Mental and behavioural conditions - 4.8 million people (20.1%) Back problems - 4.0 million people (16.4%) Arthritis - 3.6 million people (15.0%) Asthma - 2.7 million people (11.2%) Diabetes mellitus- 1.2 million people (4.9%) Type 1 Diabetes - 144,800 people (0.6%) Type 2 Diabetes - 998,100 people (4.1%) Heart, stroke and vascular disease - 1.2 million people (4.8%) Osteoporosis - 924,000 people (3.8%) Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease - 598,800 people (2.5%) Cancer - 432,400 people (1.8%) Kidney disease - 237,800 people (1.0%)
Alcohol consumption Consumed more than two standard drinks per day on average (16.1%) Males exceeded the lifetime risk guideline (23.7%) Females exceeded the lifetime risk guideline (8.8%) Consumed more than four standard drinks on one occasion in the past year (42.1%) Males consumed more than four standard drinks on one occasion in the past year (54.3%) Females consumed more than four standard drinks on one occasion in the past year (30.5%)
Sugar sweetened and diet drink consumption Consume sugar sweetened drinks daily adults (9.1%) Consume sugar sweetened drinks daily (children aged 2-17 years; 7.1%) Males usually consume sugar sweetened drinks daily (11.8%) Females usually consume sugar sweetened drinks daily (6.4%) Consume diet drinks daily adults (4.8%) Consume diet drinks daily children (1.3%) Did not consume any sugar sweetened or diet drinks adult (52.0%) Did not consume any sugar sweetened or diet drinks children (55.2%)
HNA 2022-25
