Australia growing unwell

InAustralia, young people are smoking less but the nation’s waistline is growing, according to an Associated Press story quoting a new report into health risk factors.

The report, released on Tuesday by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), compared key risk factors for health, including being overweight, being obese, being physically inactive, having a poor diet, smoking and ‘excessive alcohol consumption over time’.

AIHW spokeswoman Dr. Lynelle Moon said these were the key risk factors for diseases including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease.

Moon said monitoring the risk factors was important in guiding and targeting preventive health interventions.