Introduction
Queenslanders have diverse lifestyles that often reflect where they live. The environment, access to services, social norms and demography influences the modifiable risk and protective factors in different regional areas.
The data dashboards below compare population prevalence of selected lifestyle behaviours in Queensland regions.
Figure 1 is a petal chart for comparing of the most current population prevalences of lifestyle behaviours in each HHS. A larger “petal” indicates a higher prevalence. A hover box will show the estimate when the cursor is placed over a petal. Figure 2 is a bubble chart and shows the most current population prevalences against the population size for each HHS and PHN.
Adults
For adults in the period from 2021 to 2022:
- The regions with the highest prevalence of daily smoking were Torres and Cape HHS (20.6%), North West HHS (17.4%) and Mackay HHS (16.8%)
- The regions with the highest of prevalence of overweight and obesity were South West HHS (73.3%), Central West HHS (70.4%) and Central Queensland HHS (69.8%).
Children and young people
For children, in the period from 2021 to 2022:
- The regions with the highest prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity were North West HHS (42.9%), Central West HHS (36.0%), West Moreton HHS (35.5%) and Central Queensland HHS (33.6%).
- The regions with the highest prevalence of sufficient childhood physical activity were South West HHS (62.8%), Central West HHS (59.2%) and Cairns and Hinterland HHS (55.8%)
Figure 1: Lifestyle behaviours by region, Queensland
Figure 2: Lifestyle behaviours by region and population (2020), Queensland
Trends
The data dashboards below show how some lifestyle behaviours have changed in regional populations over time. Green trend lines show an improvement over time and red lines show a worsening over time. A grey line indicates no significant change.
Results are not reportable for some regions because of small counts.
For adults:
- The regions with the highest average annual percentage decreases in daily smoking prevalence from 2009 to 2022 were Sunshine Coast HHS (5.1% per year), Gold Coast HHS (5.1% per year) and Metro North HHS (4.1% per year)
- The regions with the highest average annual increases in obesity prevalence from 2009 to 2022 were Darling Downs HHS (2.7% increase per year), Mackay HHS (2.3%) and West Moreton HHS (2.2%).
For children from 2013 to 2022
- The regions with the highest average annual percentage decreases in prevalence of daily consumption of three serves of vegetables were West Moreton HHS (6.0% decrease per year), Sunshine Coast HHS (5.3% decrease per year) and Cairns and Hinterland HHS (5.2% decrease per year)
- The regions with the highest average annual percentage increases in prevalence of sufficient physical activity were Cairns and Hinterland HHS (4.4% increase per year), Mackay HHS (4.2% increase per year) and Central Queensland HHS (4.2% increase per year).
Figure 3: Trends in lifestyle behaviours by region, Queensland
Additional information
Strategies and information
Summary results from the Queensland preventive health survey (QPHS) for Hospital and Health Services and other regions can be found within this report and more detailed and historical results can be accessed at Preventive health surveys.
Section technical notes
Data in this section were sourced from the Queensland preventive health survey (QPHS) (See Preventive health surveys for further information)
Prevalence results reported in this section are population weighted estimates using two years of data from the Queensland population health survey (QPHS). The latest years of information for each indictor may vary.