These are just some of the startling health statistics revealed in new data based on detailed interviews with 33,673 Victorians across the state’s 79 local government areas during 2011-12. The latest Victorian Population Health Survey report seen by the Herald Sun reveals a glaring disparity between the health of city dwellers and those living in the country.
Health kick
A new report shows that the prevalence of Type 2 diabetes will rise, while obesity rates are soaring. Half of Victoria’s adult population is now overweight or obese.
While Yarriambiack has the highest obesity rate at 30.9 per cent, around 44 per cent of people in Murrindindi are overweight.
While the diabetes rate appears to have levelled off, the number of Victorians with Type 2 diabetes is likely to increase as the population ages.
With increased rates of obesity, smoking, problem drinking and unhealthy diets in poorer regional areas, the department found country residents are hurting themselves.
Around 27.7 per cent of those living in Wellington are dressed or suffer from anxiety while 20.7 per cent of those in Melton have high levels of psychological distress.
But while most Victorians are turning their backs on healthy food, one in five guzzles soft drink every day and most are downing almost 600ml. Mildura residents average more than a litre each.
In the latest report more than one in five Victorians complained that fruit and vegetables were too costly.
Victorians are also ignoring fruit, with less than half the population eating enough to meet daily guidelines. Just one in 13 eats enough to meet the minimum standards to remain healthy.
As a result 17.3 per cent of Victoria’s population are now considered obese — jumping more than a quarter in a decade — and a further 32.5 per cent are overweight.
Deakin University public health professor Boyd Swinburn said Victoria was moving in the wrong direction.
“Obesity and diabetes is going up and that’s a real problem. Fruit and vegetable intake is particularly low and a very high proportion of people are drinking sugar-sweetened drink on a regular basis — it adds up to an expensive health system needed to fix up the mess,” Prof Swinburn said.
“In a global sense Australia is doing pretty well in areas like heart disease and life expectancy, but when it comes to diabetes, body weight and healthy eating, we are not doing very well at all.”
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SHIRE AIMS TO FIGHT UNHEALTHY IMAGE
IT’S an unenviable title nobody would want, but the residents of Yarriambiack shire live in the unhealthiest region of Victoria.
But they’re determined not to stay that way.
The north-western region is the only one to record higher figures than the state average for five of the seven most critical risk factors.
While the area around Hopetoun, Murtoa, Rupanyup and Warracknabeal has the state’s highest levels of obesity and daily soft drink guzzlers, the good news is the shire of 7315 is below average for the risk posed by alcohol abuse and is more physically active than most of the state.
If the people of Yarriambiack need any further encouragement, they can look to the residents of Ararat. Shackled with the fat town title at the 2011 statewide check-up, Ararat is now on the way to being fighting fit.
Rupanyup residents Sharon Nichols, 51, and Lynn Starbuck, 56, work out twice a week at Murtoa Hall with personal trainer Bec Hendy in an effort to stay fit.
“My husband is a builder and he used to always get a can of Coke and a pie for lunch every day,” Mrs Nichols said. “I got him down to a Diet Coke and then no Coke; now but I’m not sure about the pies.
“ I love exercising, and it makes me feel good, that’s why I do it.”
Murtoa local Jesse Rodier, 33, said he was not surprised by the shire’s poor heath record.
Mr Rodier said he used to drink up to nine litres of soft drink a day, causing him to lose all his teeth.
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MELTON’S GROWING OUTWARDS
IT might currently be one of the unhealthiest places in Victoria, but residents of Melton say they can get back into shape quick smart.
Concerning new figures show a quarter of Melton shire’s residents are obese, while the town also has the largest percentage of people living with Type 2 Diabetes.
They also have some of the state’s unhealthiest diets, with less than two per cent of people saying they ate the both the recommended daily serves of fruit and vegetables.
But while the figures may not make nice reading, Melton’s fitness experts are confident their town is able to turn it all around and make healthy living a priority.
Liem Truong-Nguyen, 29, a trainer at Melton Waves, was surprised at the Department of Health report.
“There are a lot of gyms in this area, I could probably name 10 or so, but there are also a lot of inactive people here too,” he said.
“It’s all about getting those people into places like this, then they’ll start to see the change in themselves.”
Karen Lorenz from Step Into Life Personal Training said that there was a range of factors why Melton ranked so poorly in the health report.
“There needs to be more awareness and education. People need to know that living a healthy and active lifestyle is going to be better for them in the long run, rather than enjoying all the junk food now,” Ms Lorenz said.
“There’s a lot more unhealthy places to eat than there is healthy ones around here.
“Knowing what’s around is also a big part, some people are just not aware of what’s around them to get fit and healthy.”
One of Lorenz’s clients Prue Baker, a childcare worker in Melton, said that it’s important for parents to give their kids a healthy helping hand.
“I work in after school care and a lot of the kids will bring in junk food,” Ms Baker said.
“We try to get them to exercise a bit more but they’re just not interested at all.
“They’d rather sit and play on their iPads than do any physical activity.”
Melton mum Kayla Dixon, 22, said that she wanted to set a good example for her son Jobe.
“We’re always outside playing,” she said.
“I’m hoping before he goes school, we’ll be able to teach Jobe its important to be healthy because unfortunately there’s a lot of people around who aren’t.”
Unsurprisingly Melton also ranks poorly in the number of people with mental health problems, with 20.7 per cent of people surveyed saying they experienced some sort of psychological distress.
This was almost double the state average.
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NAPTHINE’S $100M HEALTH PLEDGE
THE Napthine Government will inject more than $100 million into health programs to try and halt a rising tide of obesity, diabetes, heart disease and chronic health conditions.
A re-elected Coalition will spend $127 million on health prevention and promotion strategies including $22 million to prevent diabetes and cardiovascular disease and $40 million for primary and preventive healthcare.
More than $35 million will also be invested in anti-smoking programs and regional health services, plus $2.8 million will be given to the Royal Flying Doctor Service to expand in the Wimmera, East Gippsland and North East.
The funding pledge comes after the most comprehensive check-up of the state’s health revealed areas of Victoria are eating so poorly that fewer than one in 30 residents consumes the recommended amount of vegetables.
Following the release of Victoria’s last Population Health Survey in 2011, the Coalition Government launched its Healthy Together Victoria program, which saturated the most troubled areas of the state with grassroots preventive health programs.
The new cash boost includes $20 million to continue that program. Prof Swinburn said it was achieving results, but it would take years for the benefits to filter through.
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MONASH, CITY IN TOP SHAPE
CITY dwellers are reaping the benefits of improved access to services, fresh produce and clean living — and Monash residents are leading the charge to healthily living.
With the second lowest number of overweight residents, the second lowest at risk of harm through binge drinking and long term alcohol abuse, and very low numbers of smokers, it’s little wonder the outer south east Melbourne area also has Victoria’s lowest levels of depression and anxiety.
City neighbours living in the heart of Melbourne’s CBD — the home of Victoria’s most active residents — are the only other area to rate so highly in the key health areas.
Seeing the eating habits of Monash residents each day, Mt Waverly fruiterer Rob Cincotta from Sam’s Fruit World is not surprised his area rates so well — but is worried for regions not performing as well.
“People love our fruit and vegies so its not a huge surprise that Monash is so healthy — but I guess it’s a surprise in terms of what you hear about obesity,” Mr Cincotta said.
“We get a lot of mothers that come through in the mornings who buy fruit for the kids’ lunches.
“About 75 per cent of our customers are return customers, but we do get a lot that travel from as far as Wantirna and Knox to come to us.”
Residents in Melbourne’s east were the least concerned about gaining access to quality food, while almost a quarter of those in rural areas of the state sighted “can’t get food of the right quality” as a barrier to good health and nutrition.
With Annika Smethurst, Andrew Jefferson, Paddy Naughtin, Phillippa Butt