New figures show why people are putting on weight – and the lack of exercise isn’t the main reason

Are YOU fitter than the typical Australian? Alarming new figures show why more people are putting on weight – and lack of exercise isn’t the biggest reason

  • The typical Australian is overweight and does not eat enough vegetables
  • More than half of Australians are gaining weight due to low vegetable intake
  • Lack of Australians doing sufficient strength and toning exercise is also a factor 

The typical Australian is overweight or obese, does 42 minutes of exercise a day and does not eat enough vegetables, according to alarming new figures released by the Bureau of Statistics. 

The average Australian male weighs 87kg and stands 175cm tall while the typical female weighs 72kg and stands 161cm tall – which means both are considered overweight.  

More than half of Australians are gaining weight because they aren’t getting their recommended vegetable intake, according to the results of the ABS’s 2017-18 National Health Survey. 

The typical Australian is overweight or obsese, does 42 minutes of exercise per day and does not eat enough vegetables, according to alarming new figures

More than half of Australians are gaining weight because they aren't getting their recommended vegetable intake

More than half of Australians are gaining weight because they aren’t getting their recommended vegetable intake

Only one in 13 adults met the guidelines for serves of vegetables, which is six or more serves for men depending on age, and five or more serves for women daily. 

‘More than half of us were eating the recommended daily intake of fruit but not enough vegetables, with only 7.5 per cent of adults eating the recommended daily serves of vegetables,’ said ABS Director of Health Statistics Louise Gates. 

The lack of Australians participating in sufficient strength and toning activities is another factor behind weight gain.   

On average, both males and females do 42 minutes of exercise a day, which consists mostly of walking for transport or walking for exercise for roughly  25 minutes. 

‘In addition, 44 per cent of us spent most of our work day sitting,’ said Ms Gates. 

The lack of Australians participating in sufficient strength and toning activities is another factor behind the nation's weight gain

The lack of Australians participating in sufficient strength and toning activities is another factor behind the nation’s weight gain

Two thirds of Australians are overweight or obese, according to the 2017-18 report. 

There was a large increase in weight among those aged 18-24, with close to two out of five Australians overweight or obese in 2014-15, compared to just under half in 2017-18. 

More than half of Australians aged over 15 consider themselves to have excellent health, while less than 15 per cent report being in poor health – a result that has remained stable over the past ten years. 

Two thirds of Australians are overweight or obese, according to the 2017-18 report

Two thirds of Australians are overweight or obese, according to the 2017-18 report

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