Science and Health

Majority of Queenslanders not at healthy weight

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-01-05 17:12

CANBERRA: Almost 60 percent of Queensland adults are not at a healthy weight, an Australia's health survey revealed on Tuesday.

The telephone survey of 6,881 Queenslanders aged 18 and over also found that almost one in seven people (15 percent) smoked daily, and 45 percent did not undertake enough physical activity to benefit their health.

Only 41.5 percent of people were at a healthy weight, with 34 percent overweight, 19 percent obese, 1.9 percent severely obese and 3 per cent of people underweight.

One in 10 Queenslanders were eating five serves of vegetables per day and about one in 12 adults reported having diabetes.

High levels of psychological distress were also reported, at 12 percent.

On the positive note, the survey found 90 percent of Queenslanders had good quality of life, 84 per cent were in good health and just under 80 percent were satisfied with their health.

The survey also found smoking rates had declined 23 percent in the past five years, representing 159,000 fewer daily smokers.

Acting chief health officer Dr Christine Selvey said while there were some positive results, there were also some that were "disturbing".

"While we will continue with our prevention programs targeting issues such as smoking, alcohol, nutrition, physical activity and cancer, it is up to the individual to make decisions that attain and maintain good health," Selvey said in a statement.