The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare recently published their findings for 2018 on whether Australia is a healthy nation. As Australians we pride ourselves on living an active lifestyle and being healthy has become far more important on our list of intrinsic values in the 21st century. However, there are still some rather surprising statistics to come out of this report and there is far more we can we doing as a nation to increase our overall health and wellbeing.
(Courtesy of aihw.gov.au)
Firstly, we should start by defining what health means. The World Health Organisation defines health as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. Therefore, whilst most cases of diseases occurring are being lowered year on year, there are still some concerning statistics that show we aren’t quite as healthy as we could be.
It may surprise you to learn that whilst we consider ourselves a healthy nation, 63% of Australians aged 18 and older are overweight or obese. This may be due to several factors, none more important than having a good diet and exercise. In our last blog we spoke about how many Australians are choosing discretionary foods such as lollies and junk food instead of healthier options. Choosing a healthy snack such as a Kuranda Wholefood’s energy bar, rather than reaching for a chocolate bar or other snack could dramatically reduce these figures.
Another important figure for Australians to consider is how much exercise we are getting each week. Health experts state that we should all aim for a brisk 30 minutes a day where possible, utilising options such as taking the stairs instead of a lift at work or avoiding public transport and walking home. If you are stuck for ideas on how to fit more activity into your day, then take a look at our previous blog on staying active at work!
In better news however, we are living longer than ever before with a huge 33 years higher life expectancy than people born in 1890. This places us in the top third for life expectancy around the world. Men born in 2011 can expect a full 1.7 years more than men born in 2003 and women can expect an extra 1.2 years. These are very positive signs that Australians are taking their health and wellbeing very seriously and we can expect this trend to continue.
If you are looking to lead a healthier lifestyle, please feel free to take a look at our other blogs centred around health and wellness! Also, every single product on www.kurandawholefoods.com.au is made with health, balance and happiness in mind. If you are looking to improve your diet, adding in some of our famous muesli or energy bars to your day to day eating habits is a great decision.