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.

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Latest findings

2 in 3 (67%) adults were overweight or obese in 2017–18—36% were overweight but not obese and 31% were obese

In 2017–18, 38% of adults in the lowest socioeconomic areas were obese, compared with 24% in the highest

60% of men and 66% of women in 2017–18 had a waist circumference that indicated a high risk of metabolic complications

For adults aged 51–70, alcoholic drinks account for more than one-fifth (22%) of discretionary food intake

Iron and calcium intakes for girls and women in some age groups need to improve

Although fruit intake is closest to the recommendations, nearly 4 in 5 adults (77%) aged 19–50 do not eat enough

Highlights