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


VICTORIA

General health

  • Considered themselves to be in excellent or very good health - 2.7 million people (56.3% of persons aged 15 years and over in Victoria)
  • Experienced high or very high levels of psychological distress - 564,400 people (12.5% of persons aged 18 years and over in Victoria)

Long-term health conditions
  • Arthritis - 877,700 people (15.1% of persons in Victoria)
  • Asthma - 688,000 people (11.9%)
  • Cancer - 79,000 people (1.4%)
  • Diabetes - 300,400 people (5.2%)
  • Hayfever - 1.2 million people (21.2%)
  • Heart disease - 310,300 people (5.4%)
  • High cholesterol - 420,700 people (7.3%)
  • Hypertension - 658,000 people (11.4%)
  • Kidney disease - 53,200 people (0.9%)
  • Long sightedness - 1.6 million people (26.8%)
  • Mental and behavioural conditions - 1 million people (17.5%)
  • Osteoporosis - 194,300 people (3.4%)
  • Short sightedness - 1.6 million people (27.3%)
    Compared with Australia, Victoria had higher rates of Asthma, Hayfever and Short sightedness.
    Compared with Australia, Victoria had a lower rate of Long sightedness. Other conditions were similar to the national rate.


    Health risk factors

    Smoking
    • Current daily smoker – 618,300 people (13.7% of persons aged 18 years and over in Victoria)

    Rates of current daily smokers decreased in 2014-15 compared with 2011-12 (16.3%). 1

    Overweight and Obesity

    Adults
    • Overweight – 1.7 million people (37.1% of persons aged 18 years and over in Victoria)
    • Obese – 1.2 million people (26.4%)
    • Overweight or obese - 2.9 million people (63.3%)

    Children
    • Overweight – 248,400 children (21.9% of children aged 2-17 years in Victoria)
    • Obese – 82,900 children (7.3%)
    • Overweight or obese - 324,500 children (28.6%)

    Alcohol consumption 2
    • Exceeded lifetime risk guidelines (no more than two standard drinks on any day) – 705,500 people (15.6% of persons aged 18 years and over in Victoria)
    • Exceeded single occasion risk guidelines (no more than four standard drinks on a single occasion) – 1.9 million people (42.5%)

    Blood pressure
    • High blood pressure (equal to or greater than 140/90 mmHg) – 1.1 million people (23.7% of persons aged 18 years and over in Victoria)

    Daily intake of fruit and vegetables 3

    Adults
    • Met the Australian Dietary Guidelines for recommended daily serves of fruit – 2.2 million people (48.0% of persons aged 18 years and over in Victoria)
    • Met the Australian Dietary Guidelines for recommended daily serves of vegetables – 293,400 people (6.5%)
    • Met the Australian Dietary Guidelines for recommended daily serves of both fruit and vegetables – 202,100 people (4.5%)

    Children
    • Met the Australian Dietary Guidelines for recommended daily serves of fruit – 822,200 children (66.4% of children aged 2-18 years in Victoria)
    • Met the Australian Dietary Guidelines for recommended daily serves of vegetables – 54,300 children (4.4%)
    • Met the Australian Dietary Guidelines for recommended daily serves of both fruit and vegetables – 44,400 children (3.6%)

    Exercise 4
    • Participated in sufficient physical activity – 1.8 million people (49.4% of persons aged 18-64 years in Victoria)

    Compared with Australia, Victoria had a lower rate of persons aged 18 years and over exceeding lifetime risk guidelines of alcohol consumption. 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.