Overview

Health risk factors are attributes, characteristics or exposures that increase the likelihood of a person developing a disease or health disorder. Behavioural risk factors are those that individuals have the most ability to modify. Biomedical risk factors are bodily states that are often influenced by behavioural risk factors.

More reports and statistics on risk factors can be found under Chronic disease, Overweight & obesity, Food & nutrition, Physical activity, Smoking, Alcohol and Social determinants.

Latest findings

Australia had the 6th highest proportion of overweight or obese people aged 15+ among 22 OECD member countries in 2019 2 in 3 (67%) adults were overweight or obese in 2017–18—36% were overweight but not obese and 31% were obese Since 1995, the contribution of added sugars, total fat and saturated fat to energy intake has generally decreased Nearly all Australians (99%) aged 2–18, and 9 in 10 adults aged 19 and over do not eat enough vegetables Although fruit intake is closest to the recommendations, nearly 4 in 5 adults (77%) aged 19–50 do not eat enough Iron and calcium intakes for girls and women in some age groups need to improve 60% of men and 66% of women in 2017–18 had a waist circumference that indicated a high risk of metabolic complications One in four (25%) children and adolescents aged 2–17 were overweight or obese in 2017–18 About one-third of Australians’ energy is from discretionary foods. This is highest for teenagers aged 14–18, at 41% For adults aged 51–70, alcoholic drinks account for more than one-fifth (22%) of discretionary food intake Overall, the diets of Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians are similar In 2017–18, 38% of adults in the lowest socioeconomic areas were obese, compared with 24% in the highest

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Highlights

2 in 3(70%) children aged 2–17 did not meet the physical activity guideline in 2011–12
Only 3 in 10pregnant women met the Australian physical activity guideline
1 in 4(25%) children aged 2–17 and 2 in 3 (67%) adults were overweight or obese in 2017–18
4.1%of men had impared fasting glucose compared with 2.1% of women in 2011–12
1 in 2adults (55%) did not meet the physical activity guidelines in 2017–18
23%of adults had uncontrolled (measured) high blood pressure in 2017–18
Less than1 in 10 adults met the recommendations for daily vegetable consumption in 2017–18
4.1%of men had impaired fasting glucose compared with 2.1% of women in 2011–12