A Queensland Health survey suggests that about 60 percent of the adults in Queensland are not at a healthy weight, and nine out of 10 don’t eat enough veggies.

The survey which was conducted on telephone involving 6,881 Queenslanders aged 18 and over, found that almost every seventh person smoked daily. The survey also revealed that 45 percent did not undertake enough physical activity to benefit their health.

Every tenth Queenslanders were eating five serves of vegetables every day and every twelfth adult was found to have diabetes.

High levels of psychological distress were also reported at 12 percent. The survey found 90 percent of Queenslanders having good quality of life. 84 percent of them were in good health and about
80 percent of them were satisfied with their health.

The survey found that smoking rates had gone down by 23 percent in the past five years which represents 159,000 fewer daily smokers.

Dr Christine Selvey, acting chief health officer, said that while there were some positive results some were equally disturbing.

Dr Selvey said, “While we will continue with our prevention programs targeting issues such as smoking, alcohol, nutrition, physical activity and cancer, it is up to the individual to make decisions that attain and maintain good health.”