Young people are combatting health risks, according to AIHW

The report viewed data taken over a long period of time from various different age groups. The data focused on health risk factors such as obesity, inactivity, smoking, alcohol abuse, and diet.

The research was an attempt to curb the rise in preventable conditions such as heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, and chronic renal disease.

AIHW spokesperson Dr Lynelle Moon said, “Monitoring these risk factors is important in helping to guide and target preventative health interventions.”

The data showed that between 1995 and 2008, body mass index (BMI) measurements showed that waist size amongst adults rose. Thei had a knock on effect with obesity rates across all sections of society.

This said, the data was no all bad news as it revealed a buck in the trend of alcohol consumption, with drinking rates stabilising since 2004. It also revealed that smoking rates amongst young people were dropping.

Dr Moon said, “The proportion of adults who were daily smokers also dropped between 1989-90 and 2007-08, from 27% to 21% for men and from 20% to 17% for women. Falls occurred for adults in most age groups, but the greatest fall was for those aged 18-24.”