Foreword
The people of New South Wales generally live long and productive lives. A child born in 2006 would now expect to live 79.3 years if male and 84.2 years if female, an increase of just under 3 years since 1997. Australian longevity was third only to Japan and Switzerland in 2006.
However, our population is also subject to a heavy burden of disease. These diseases include, in order burden, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, mental disorders, neurological disorders, injuries, respiratory diseases and diabetes. Together these diseases constitute just over 80% of all disease burden in our community.
Each of these diseases can in part be prevented and others have had improved survival over the last decade with the advancement of medical science and research. Prevention requires addressing the determinants of poor health and substantial changes in life-style behaviours associated with disease risk. These risky behaviours include smoking, poor diet low in fruit and vegetables, little exercise, and high alcohol consumption.
This report "The Health of the People of NSW - Report of the Chief Health Officer" clearly shows that life expectancy is increasing and deaths from the major diseases are falling. The report shows ongoing reductions in risky behaviours such as smoking, sedentary behaviour and risk-drinking, which lead to disease. Risky drinking has reduced by over 13% in males and 9% in females in the last 10 years and adequate levels of physical activity have increased by 13% in men and 4% in women.
However, overweight and obesity rates have increased by over 3% in men and just under 4% in women in the last five years. The consumption of vegetables has remained low in both men and women, with below 15% of men and women eating the recommended amount of vegetables in 2007.
The report also highlights that the significant health gains experienced by many people in NSW have not been shared equally, with poorer health outcomes in individuals in low socio-economic groups and in the Aboriginal population of NSW. In these populations, health outcomes remain unacceptably different from the rest of the community.
Deaths from all causes decreased by 22% in men over the last ten years and by 19% in women. There was a higher rate of decline in deaths from potentially available causes of 36% in men and 32% in women in the last decade. Life expectancy for those who have survived to age 65 years is now around 84 years for men and 87 years for women.
This report provides key information on the status of the health of our community, current challenges and inequities and trends in these factors. It provides information to all those working to improve health on the effectiveness of their programs and to the public to allow them to take steps to maintain healthy lives.
Dr Kerry Chant
Acting Deputy Director-General, Population HealthAnd Chief Health Officer
November 2008
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Copyright notice
This work is copyright NSW Department of Health, 2006. It may be reproduced in whole or in part, subject to the inclusion of an acknowledgement of the source. Commercial usage or sale is prohibited.
Suggested citation
Population Health Division. The health of the people of New South Wales - Report of the Chief Health Officer. Sydney: NSW Department of Health. Available at: www.health.nsw.gov.au/publichealth/chorep/. Accessed (insert date of access).
Produced by
Centre for Epidemiology and Research, Population Health Division, NSW Department of Health.
Last updated on 19 December 2008
