Australia second in world for male obesity

AUSTRALIANS are eating badly and getting fatter – but still 85% rate their own health as good or excellent.

This disconnect between fact and fiction is revealed in the latest report card on the nation's health from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW).

Just 50% of people consume the suggested two serves of fruit per day. Fewer than one in 10 eat the recommended five serves of vegetables per day.

And while we might be a nation of sports-lovers, almost 60% don't do enough physical activity.

As a result Australia has the second highest rate of obesity for males and the fifth highest for females.

One in four adults and one in 12 children are obese. That's more than three million people.

The proportion of the population with diabetes doubled in the decade to 2007/08, the report shows.

However a majority (85%) of Australians rate their health as good or better, according to Australia's Health 2012 released today.

Some 56% of people say their health is very good or excellent, 29% opt for ‘good’ while just 15% admit their status is fair or poor.

Happily, most Australians feel pretty good about their quality of life.

Some 83% say they are delighted, pleased or mostly satisfied. Fourteen per cent have mixed feelings while just 4% are miserable.

Australia has the sixth-longest life expectancy for males (at 79 years) and females (84 years) among similar developed countries, with Switzerland topping the list for males and Japan for females.

Cardiovascular disease remains Australia's biggest killer accounting for 33% of all deaths.

However there has been a 78% decline in deaths from myocardial infarcts and strokes since the 1968 peak.