Health survey reveals interesting facts about NSW residents

Apr 1 2008

A population survey by the NSW Department of Health has revealed a number of interesting facts.

The survey conducted in 2007 has found when it comes to alcohol consumption, the number of adults whose drinking behaviour is of high risk has declined significantly since 2002 but such behaviour is more common in southern and north coast areas.

The survey also shows more seniors, particularly women in the Hunter and New England are now being vaccinated against influenza and pneumococcal disease.

According to the survey 92.9 per cent of those surveyed had a smoke alarm in the home and more than half of the adult population consumes the recommended minimum of 2 serves of fruit each day, particularly in the northern Sydney and central coast area.

Just over 1 in 10 adults consume the recommended minimum of 5 serves of vegetables each day, again especially in the Hunter and New England and north coast area.

Hunter and New England men appear to be the fittest group of adults in the State, with almost 70 per cent exercising for the recommended 150 minutes each week, while women living in northern Sydney exercised the most.

Overall the number undertaking adequate levels of physical activity was over 54 per cent and just under 1 in 5 adults smoke.

However smoking has decreased significantly since 1997 and 88.2 per cent of adults now live in smoke-free homes.

Despite the healthy habits mentioned earlier, more women in the Hunter New England area are smokers and the area also had the greatest concentration of female drinkers overall, with women living in the bush drinking more than city women.

Males living in a rural area drink more than six drinks on any given day and the biggest concentration of drinkers were found in the State's south, west and on the North Coast.

These areas also had the highest rates of asthma, diabetes and high blood glucose and the worst oral health but even so most men questioned regarded themselves as healthy.