Queenslanders fatter but live longer and smoke less: Health report

By Dr. Ananya Mandal, MDNov 29 2010

A new health report reveals that more than 60 per cent of Queensland adults are overweight or obese. The Health of Queenslanders report also reveals that Queenslanders are living longer and smoking less.

This is a two-yearly health report that showed that average life expectancy has increased from 78 to 80 since 2000. Rates of smoking has declined by about 30 per cent over the past decade. In the past year, the number of Queenslanders smoking fell 6.6 per cent to 15.5 per cent. There is also better blood pressure control. But number of people who are overweight and obese has increased by 50 per cent.

Queensland’s chief health officer Dr Jeannette Young said, “Queenslanders overall have a very, very good state of health, but there are a few things that are quite concerning… The biggest issue is that Queenslanders overall are gaining weight every year… We’ve now got 61 per cent of adults overweight or obese and 26.9 per cent of children aged five through to 17.” She added, “There are groups that have worse outcomes than other groups - the main group of course are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders… The most important thing that Queenslanders can do is to maintain a healthy weight.”