The health of young Australians developed by The education team

What exercise are they doing? From the National Health Survey… 35% participated in moderate to high levels of physical activity (in the 2 weeks before the survey) of these 43% were male and 28% were female 27% were sedentary (no exercise or very low levels) year olds were more active than year olds

They are getting heavier! From National Health Survey… The OO factor!! 25% of children aged 5-17 years were OO 36% of years were OO of these 13% were obese & 23% overweight Young males were more likely to be OO % of OO15-24 year olds increased from 29% to 36% over the last decade OO=obesity & overweight

What do they eat? From National Health Survey… 1 in 3 young people met fruit intake 1 in 10 met vegetable intake 7% of young people did not eat any fruit 1% of young people did not eat any vegetables

Fruit, veges, exercise and weight! % of young people (15-24 years) meeting recommended fruit and vegetables and physical activity guidelines, and who are overweight or obese, From Australias health 2010 Figure 6.7 Page 309

Tobacco use down From the 2010 National Drug Strategy Household Survey… year olds – 8% smoked daily and 86% had never smoked Males were generally more likely to be daily smokers than females except in the 12–17yrs age group, where females were more likely to be daily smokers (3%) than males (2%)

What are they drinking? From the 2010 National Drug Strategy Household Survey… The proportion of males drinking alcohol was higher than females for all age groups except for 12-17yr olds (39% of females compared with 38% of males) 5% of year olds drank alcohol weekly, compared with 42% of adults The proportion of year olds abstaining from alcohol increased from 24% in 2007 to 32% in 2010

Using more drugs From the 2010 National Drug Strategy Household Survey… 29% of 15–19 year olds had used an illicit drug in the preceding year Use of Illicit drugs by 14–17 year olds has increased from 10% in 2007 to 13% in 2010 Overall the most common types of illicit drugs by 14–17 year olds… 13% marijuana/cannabis ~ up from 10% in % ecstasy ~ down from 2% in % cocaine ~ down from 0.5% in 2007

Chlamydia rates rising From Young Australians their health and wellbeing 2011… From 1998 to 2008 the notification rate for chlamydia has increased nearly fivefold Young people aged years accounted for over 90% of the cases of these 50% more females than males

Burden of disease From Young Australians their health and wellbeing 2011… In 2010… Almost 50% of the estimated total burden of disease (bod) in young people was due to mental disorders 1 in 4 people aged years had experienced a mental disorder in the last 12mths Females were more likely to have experienced a mental disorder 18% of bod was due to injuries (road traffic accidents and self-harm)

Whats killing our youth? From Young Australians their health and wellbeing 2011… In 2007… 1,418 deaths – which is only 1% of total Australian deaths Males accounted for 70% of deaths Injury and poisoning accounted for 66% of deaths Of this road traffic accidents and self-harm accounted for 35% and 37% respectively

Whats killing our youth? From Young Australians their health and wellbeing 2011… Males were 3 times more likely to die from road traffic accidents and self-harm Cancer was the second leading cause of death-10% (leukaemia and brain cancer were the leading cause) Indigenous young people were 2.5 times more likely to die than non-Indigenous young people

Indigenous young people From The health and welfare of Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people: an overview 2011 In 2008, almost one-third of young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people (aged 16–24 years) had high or very high levels of psychological distress more than twice the rate of young non-Indigenous Australians Assault was the most common cause of injury hospitalisation for Indigenous young people, almost 5 times that of non-Indigenous young people

Indigenous young people From The health and welfare of Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people: an overview 2011 The 2007–08 National Health Survey showed that 40% of young Indigenous Australians (aged 15–24 years) were daily smokers, more than twice the rate of non-Indigenous young people (16%) Indigenous young people died at a rate 2.5 times higher than non-indigenous young people

The good news is…

Young males are dying less Mortality for young people aged years, From Australias health 2010 Figure 6.6 Page 308

Overall, large declines in death rates. Declines in asthma hospitalisations. Improved survival for cancer, with survival for melanoma very high. Favourable trends in some risk and protective factors, such as declines in smoking and illicit substance use. Most Year 10 and 12 students using contraception.

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