Risk factor prevalence data is presented in a series of spreadsheets. Each of the spreadsheets include summary data and detailed, age-specific data.
The following links go to the risk factor spreadsheets:
Data sources
Risk factor data are sourced from a number of cross-sectional surveys:
1999-2000 Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle (AusDiab) Study
Conducted by the International Diabetes Institute, AusDiab was designed to provide estimates of the prevalence of diagnosed and undiagnosed diabetes and self-reported chronic conditions such as heart disease and high blood pressure, It also provided national measurements of blood pressure, blood lipids, blood glucose, body fat, height and weight, and waist and hip circumference, as well as self-reported information on diet, smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity, and general health and well-being. The study collected information in urban and non-urban areas in all states and the Northern Territory and sampled over 20,000 aged 25 years and over, of whom more than 11,000 underwent a physical examination.
Measured data on high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol and body weight were extracted from AusDiab.
1995 National Nutrition Survey
Conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the 1995 National Nutrition Survey was the largest and most comprehensive Australian survey of food and nutrient intake, dietary habits and body measurements. The survey collected information from a sub-sample of respondents from the 1995 National Health Survey, approximately 13,800 people from urban and rural areas of Australia. The National Nutrition Survey was conducted over a 13-month period from February 1995 to March 1996.
Measured data on high blood pressure and body weight were extracted from the National Nutrition Survey.
1997, 1999 & 2000 National Physical Activity Surveys
The 2000 survey was conducted to give an assessment of physical activity patterns and knowledge of the benefits of physical activity among adult Australian after the Olympics in Sydney (September 2000). The survey collected information from a national sample of 3,590 people aged 18-75 years during November and December 2000. This survey followed on from the 1997 (the Active Australia Baseline Survey) and 1999 National Physical Activity Surveys. The 1997 survey collected information from a national sample of 4,821 people in November and December 1997. The 1999 survey collected information from a national sample of 3,841 people in November and December 1999.
Self-reported data on participation in leisure-time physical activity were extracted from the National Physical Activity Surveys.
1980, 1983 & 1989 Risk Factor Prevalence Surveys
The Risk Factor Prevalence Study was a series of surveys conducted by the National Heart Foundation of Australia, designed to obtain national information on biomedical and behavioural risk factors in Australia and to monitor trends. The study collected information from a sample of around 22,000 adults living in capital cities of Australian (Canberra and Darwin were not included in the 1980 and 1883 surveys), between May/June and December of the survey year.
Measured data on high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol and body weight were extracted from the Risk Factor Prevalence Surveys.