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So what does our health really cost?
It seems that every week new data emerges highlighting the state of health of Australians and the cost that this represents. To best understand how your health status may be affecting your bottom line, it is important to understand just how healthy you are. The health statistics below may provide you with a better appreciation of whether you are contributing to the large Australian health system costs.
Health promotion statistics:
On average only 2.8% of total health expenditure is allocated to organised public and private prevention programs, yet preventable behavioural factors constitute 40% to 50% of the causes of premature deaths.
Health costs Australia:
Chronic disease represents one of the largest challenges facing the Australian health system; it is estimated to cause about 80% of the total burden of disease in Australia.
Active transport Statistics:
Currently, 81.4% of Victorians travel to work by car, only 3.8% walk, 7% use public transport, 1.1% ride a bicycle, and 4% used multiple modes of transport. Car usage is escalating rapidly with 50% of Victorian households now owning two or more cars. Active transport provides multiple health benefits by providing physical activity and decreasing the adverse health effects of motor vehicle transport.
Big Statistics!:
Globally there are more than 1 billion overweight adults, with at least 300 million of them being obese. Approximately 3.3 million Australians are obese with another 5.6 million overweight. In Victoria, 56% of men and 38% of women self reported as being overweight or obese.
Do you need to read these statistics to get moving?:
Physical inactivity is responsible for about 7% of the total burden of disease in Australia and rates second only to tobacco smoking. Physical inactivity has been linked to coronary heart disease, ischemic stroke, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis and some cancers. An alarming 54% of Australian adults are not doing enough physical activity to achieve health benefits.
Only 30% of Australians report that they participate in physical activity more than once a week. Increasing physical activity in older adults has been shown to decrease depression, increase overall health and improve quality of life. People who participate in sports and physical activity during adolescence are much more likely to be physically active in later life.
Statistic Protection:
Every year in Australia, 720,000 skin cancers are removed. This costs the Federal Government more than $300 million.