4364.0.55.001 - National Health Survey: First Results, 2014-15  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 23/03/2016   
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NATIONAL HEALTH SURVEY, 2014-15


TASMANIA

General health

  • Considered themselves to be in excellent or very good health - 220,900 people (53.9% of persons aged 15 years and over in Tasmania)
  • Experienced high or very high levels of psychological distress - 52,900 people (13.5% of persons aged 18 years and over in Tasmania)

Rates of persons aged 18 years and over with high or very high psychological distress increased in 2014-15 compared with 2011-12 (8.9%). 1

Long-term health conditions
  • Arthritis - 118,000 people (23.4% of persons in Tasmania)
  • Asthma - 63,300 people (12.6%)
  • Cancer - 6,100 people (1.2%)
  • Diabetes - 26,600 people (5.3%)
  • Hayfever - 109,300 people (21.7%)
  • Heart disease - 38,600 people (7.7%)
  • High cholesterol - 47,400 people (9.4%)
  • Hypertension - 82,500 people (16.4%)
  • Kidney disease - 7,400 people (1.5%)
  • Long sightedness - 166,800 people (33.1%)
  • Mental and behavioural conditions - 104,500 people (20.8%)
  • Osteoporosis - 19,400 people (3.9%)
  • Short sightedness - 111,900 people (22.2%)
    Compared with Australia, Tasmania had higher rates of Arthritis, Asthma, Heart disease, High cholesterol, Hypertension, Long sightedness and Mental and behavioural conditions.

    Compared with Australia, Tasmania had a lower rate of short sightedness. Other conditions were similar to the national rate.

    Health risk factors

    Smoking
    • Current daily smoker - 69,900 people (17.9% of persons aged 18 years and over in Tasmania)

    Overweight and Obesity

    Adults
    • Overweight - 137,600 people (35.2% of persons aged 18 years and over in Tasmania)
    • Obese - 126,400 people (32.3%)
    • Overweight or obese - 264,200 people (67.5%)

    Rates of persons aged 18 years and over who were obese in Tasmania increased in 2014-15 compared with 2011-12 (28.5%).1

    Children
    • Overweight - 23,400 children (23.1% of children aged 2-17 years in Tasmania)
    • Obese - 8,200 children (8.1%)
    • Overweight or obese - 30,200 children (29.8%)

    Alcohol consumption 2
    • Exceeded lifetime risk guidelines (no more than two standard drinks on any day) - 72,700 people (18.6% of persons aged 18 years and over in Tasmania)
    • Exceeded single occasion risk guidelines (no more than four standard drinks on a single occasion) - 178,700 people (45.7%)

    Rates of persons aged 18 years and over who exceeded lifetime risk guidelines of alcohol consumption in Tasmania decreased in 2014-15 compared with 2011-12 (22.7%). 1

    Blood pressure
    • High blood pressure (equal to or greater than 140/90 mmHg) - 111,300 people (28.4% of persons aged 18 years and over in Tasmania)

    Daily intake of fruit and vegetables 3

    Adults
    • Met the Australian Dietary Guidelines for recommended daily serves of fruit - 184,300 people (47.1% of persons aged 18 years and over in Tasmania)
    • Met the Australian Dietary Guidelines for recommended daily serves of vegetables - 45,300 people (11.6%)
    • Met the Australian Dietary Guidelines for recommended daily serves of both fruit and vegetables - 26,400 people (6.8%)

    Children
    • Met the Australian Dietary Guidelines for recommended daily serves of fruit - 70,700 children (66.2% of children aged 2-18 years in Tasmania)
    • Met the Australian Dietary Guidelines for recommended daily serves of vegetables - 6,100 children (5.7%)
    • Met the Australian Dietary Guidelines for recommended daily serves of both fruit and vegetables - 5,700 children (5.4%)

    Exercise 4
    • Participated in sufficient physical activity - 131,400 people (43.4% of persons aged 18-64 years in Tasmania)


    Compared with Australia, persons aged 18 years and over in Tasmania had a higher rate who
    • met the Australian Dietary Guidelines for recommended daily serves of vegetables
    • met the Australian Dietary Guidelines for recommended daily serves of both fruit and vegetables
    • were overweight or obese
    • were current daily smokers
    • had high blood pressure

    Other health risk factors were similar to the national rate.


    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

    For further information about these and related statistics see publication National Health Survey: First Results, 2014-15 (cat. no. 4364.0.55.001), or contact the National Information and Referral Service on 1300 135 070.


    ENDNOTES

    1 All comparisons made between 2011-12 and 2014-15 have been tested for statistical significance with a 95% level of confidence that there is a real difference in the two populations being tested. To determine whether there is a statistical difference between any other two estimates, significance testing should be undertaken.

    2 National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), 2009. Australian guidelines to reduce health risks from drinking alcohol, Canberra: NHMRC. <http://www.nhmrc.gov.au/_files_nhmrc/publications/attachments/ds10-alcohol.pdf>. For more information see Glossary.

    3 National Health and Medical Research Council (2013) Australian Dietary Guidelines. Canberra: National Health and Medical Research Council. <https://www.eatforhealth.gov.au/sites/default/files/files/the_guidelines/n55_australian_dietary_guidelines.pdf > For more information see Glossary.

    4 Sufficient physical activity (duration and session) is defined as 150 minutes of physical activity over five or more sessions per week including walking for fitness/transport, moderate and/or vigorous physical activity.