Australia’s Health of the Nation report reveals state of our wellbeing, our fears and hopes
More than 3000 Aussies have revealed the state of our nation’s wellbeing. It’s changed — with many saying we lose 11 minutes of sleep a night. See how you can get help and have your say.
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The number of Australians who say they’re in good health has dropped in the last year, with a lack of motivation and not enough time our biggest excuses for not exercising, a national report shows.
The study, of more than 3000 people, reveals we increasingly feel overwhelmed by the volume of health advice and are struggling to know which sources to trust.
Our battle with the bulge continues, with more than half the population claiming to be overweight and the majority admitting they’ve cut back on healthy eating due to the cost of living crisis.
Our love of the couch and for many of us, our sedentary jobs, means we spend far too long sitting down. Gen Z are the worst offenders, with a third sitting for more than eight hours a day.
We’re also exercising an hour less than last year and are more tired, clocking up 11 minutes less sleep a night than 12 months ago.
Experts say being overweight, including obese, is the leading risk factor for disease in Australia and that more than a third of cases of chronic illnesses including cancer, heart disease and diabetes, could be prevented with better lifestyle choices.
Today News Corp Australia launches our second Health of the Nation campaign, using the new data to assess where Australians need the most help.
We have compiled the best and most reliable advice on food and exercise and over the next few weeks, our health experts at Body & Soul will provide easy-to-follow health tips to save you time and create a sustainable routine.
There is also a health calculator for you to figure out where you sit based on your current lifestyle choices.
To help you take that next step towards a stronger and longer life, Steph Claire Smith and Laura Henshaw, behind the wellness app Kic, are offering every reader free access to 1000 on-demand fitness tutorials and recipes for a month, as well as a specially designed Health of the Nation challenge to inspire people to reach their goals.
Australia’s Chief Medical Officer Professor Tony Lawler said it’s important to be conscious of the fact that everything we put into our mouths is going to affect our body.
“We’re kind of making a decision with each meal and each drink around where our priorities are in terms of our own health,” Prof Lawler said.
MORE: Exclusive offers to help you get healthier
MORE: Get the Kic app
MORE: Enter our Health of the Nation giveaway
FACING FACTS
Parents are failing their kids with almost six in 10 getting less than the recommended 60 minutes of physical activity each day - an increase of 13 per cent on last year. One in four children get less than 30 minutes.
Rising costs are impacting six in 10 Aussies, who say they are less able to buy fresh produce. Along with costs, three in 10 say motivation is preventing them eating more healthily, and a quarter say a lack of time to plan and prepare is a barrier.
A third of Australians are not getting the recommended seven to nine hours of sleep a night, and two thirds sleep badly at least once a week to such an extent it affects their focus at work.
The majority of Australians say they have mental health concerns, with only one in five saying they have no issues.
OUR BIGGEST FEARS
Health is one of our top priorities, with 84 per cent saying they’re doing more or the same for their health as 12 months ago. Two in three Aussies say they are in good health.
As we age dementia is our most feared health condition, followed by loss of mobility, cancer, loss of independence and heart attack.
But while healthy ageing and happiness remain top priorities, laziness and maintaining routines are our biggest hurdles.
One in 10 parents are being proactive by banning screen time, perhaps because of greater awareness of the mental health impacts of being online. One in five heavier social media users - more than five hours a day - report feeling sad or depressed about their own lives.
WHERE TO START
President of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners Dr Michael Wright said GPs are seeing more complex cases, many of which are preventative, so investing in prevention and health promotion is really important.
He said the four top goals are to watch your weight, try to get some regular exercise, avoid smoking, and minimise alcohol.
“The international evidence is really strong that one of the best things you can do to improve your health is to have a regular GP who you trust,” Dr Wright said.
Prof Lawler said, “If you want to improve your health, all you need to do is to be healthier tomorrow than today and to be healthier the day after”.
“You don’t need to become a symbol of perfection, some kind of Adonis,” Prof Lawler said.
“For me, it’s really around having a good plan. If you’re not happy with where you are, have a good sense of where you want to be…make sure it is meaningful and achievable, perhaps start with a simple walk that maybe gets a little bit longer each day.”
Like one in seven Aussies who took part in our survey, Phil Dixon, 35, reaps the physical and mental benefits of walking. In fact walking is the most popular form of exercise in Australia.
Mr Dixon set up Walk it Off, a series of single sex walking groups, to connect people in the community, build relationships, prevent isolation and give people “a check up from the neck up”.
He said it’s important to have those connections in times of strife.
“Everyone gets punched in the face by life,” Mr Dixon, said. “If it hasn’t happened yet, it will.
“We have three-year-olds to 93-year-olds walking. It’s about making it easy for mums and dads to take part, you can bring the kids. We keep it single sex so men can feel at ease about talking about men’s stuff and the same for women.”
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