People in regional and remote Australia are more likely to engage in behaviours associated with poorer health, although their diet is likely to include more vegetables.
Fast facts from National Health Survey (2004-05)
- A higher proportion of people living in regional and remote areas reported daily or current smoking compared with those in Major cities.
- The likelihood of males consuming alcohol in quantities that risked harm in the long term increased with remoteness; for example males in Inner regional areas were 1.2 times as likely to report doing this as those in Major cities; and males in Outer regional and Remote areas were 1.4 times as likely.
- Australians in regional and remote areas were 1.1 times as likely to report being overweight or obese (based on self-reported height and weight) and were also more likely to report sedentary behaviour.
- When compared to Major cities, people living in other areas were more likely to eat the recommended five serves of vegetables per day and were more likely (Inner regional) and as likely (Outer regional/Remote) to eat the recommended two serves of fruit.
For more detailed statistics on risk factors and other determinants of health see Rural, regional and remote health: indicators of health status and determinants of health.