4125.0 - Gender Indicators, Australia, August 2014  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 26/08/2014   
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RISK FACTORS

This section on Risk Factors includes the Key and Related series for the following Indicators:

Consumption of alcohol
Smoking
Overweight/Obesity
Level of exercise



CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL


Key Series

CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL IN QUANTITIES THAT PRESENT A 'LIFETIME RISK'/ 'RISK OR HIGH RISK TO HEALTH IN LONG-TERM' (a), Age standardised (b), 18 years and over
2001
2004-05
2007-08
2011-12
%
%
%
%
Consumption of alcohol in quantities:
That present a lifetime risk (a) (2009 NHMRC guidelines)
Males
29.0
32.2
30.2
28.9
Females
8.5
11.7
11.7
10.1
That present a risk/ high risk to health in long-term (a) (2001 NHMRC guidelines)
Males
13.1
15.2
15.0
13.3
Females
8.5
11.7
11.7
10.1
(a) In 2009, the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) published Australian Guidelines: to Reduce Risks from Drinking Alcohol. These guidelines are a revision to 2001 Guidelines to Reduce Health Risks from Drinking Alcohol.
In addition to revising consumption levels that constitute 'risky' behaviour, the 2009 guidelines refer to 'lifetime risk', rather than 'long-term risk', as in the 2001 guidelines.
For further information see Glossary (Health).
(b) Proportions have been age standardised to the 2001 Australian population to account for differences in the age structure of the population over time.
    Source: ABS data available on request, Australian Health Survey:
    ABS data available on request, National Health Survey.

    For a historical commentary on this indicator, refer to the January 2013 release.

    SMOKING

    Key Series

    CURRENT SMOKERS, Age standardised (a), 18 years and over
    2001
    2004-05
    2007-08
    2011-12
    %
    %
    %
    %
    Males
    27.2
    26.2
    23.0
    20.3
    Females
    21.2
    20.3
    19.0
    16.0
    (a) Proportions have been age standardised to the 2001 Australian population to account for differences in the age structure of the population over time.

    Source: ABS data available on request, Australian Health Survey, 2011-12;
    ABS data available on request, National Health Survey.

    For a historical commentary on this indicator, refer to the January 2013 release.

    OVERWEIGHT/ OBESITY


    Key Series




    OVERWEIGHT/ OBESITY (MEASURED AND SELF-REPORTED BODY MASS INDEX (BMI)) (a)(b), Age standardised (c), 18 years and over
    1995
    2001
    2004-05
    2007-08
    2011-12
    %
    %
    %
    %
    %
    Overweight/obese (d)
    Measured
    Males
    64.9
    na
    na
    67.8
    69.9
    Females
    49.4
    na
    na
    54.3
    55.2
    Self-reported
    Males
    na
    57.5
    61.6
    62.8
    na
    Females
    na
    42.2
    44.6
    47.6
    na
    (a) Self-reported Body Mass Index is no longer collected after 2007–08. Measured Body Mass Index is based on measured height and weight and continues to be collected.
    (b) For more information see Body Mass Index in Glossary (Health).
    (c) Proportions have been age standardised to the 2001 Australian population to account for differences in the age structure of the population over time.
    (d) Excludes persons for whom measured or self-reported height or weight data were not available.

    Source: ABS data available on request, Australian Health Survey.
    ABS data available on request, National Health Survey.
    For a historical commentary on this indicator, refer to the January 2013 release.

    LEVEL OF EXERCISE


    Key Series

    SEDENTARY OR ENGAGING IN LOW LEVELS OF EXERCISE, Age standardised (a), 18 years and over
    2001
    2004-05
    2007-08
    2011-12
    %
    %
    %
    %
    Sedentary or engaging in low levels of exercise (a):
    In last week (b)
    Males
    na
    na
    68.8
    63.2
    Females
    na
    na
    75.7
    72.3
    In last 2 weeks (c)
    Males
    65.0
    66.9
    68.6
    na
    Females
    73.7
    73.7
    76.1
    na
    na not available
    (a) Proportions have been age standardised to the 2001 Australian population to account for differences in the age structure of the population over time.
    (b) Refers to exercise undertaken in week prior to survey interview. For more information on Level of Exercise see Glossary (Health).
    (c) Refers to exercise undertaken in two weeks prior to survey interview. For more information on Level of Exercise see Glossary (Health).

    Source: ABS data available on request, Australian Health Survey, 2011–12;
    ABS data available on request, National Health Survey.


    Related Series

    PARTICIPATION IN SPORTS AND RECREATIONAL PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IN PREVIOUS 12 MONTHS, Age standardised (a), 15 years and over
    2005-06
    2009-10
    2011-12
    %
    %
    %
    Males
    66.0
    64.4
    66.0
    Females
    65.5
    62.5
    64.0
    (a) Proportions have been age standardised to the 2001 Australian population to account for differences in the age structure of the population over time.

    Source: ABS data available on request, Multipurpose Household Survey (MPHS) - Participation in Sport and Physical Recreation topic.


    Definitions of the concepts presented above can be found in the Health Glossary (under the Explanatory Notes tab). More detailed information can be found in the Health Data Cube (under the Downloads tab).