Adult health trends

This report provides updates to key statistics and measurements for adults and commentary on trends over time.

Highlights

The proportion of adults with untreated hypertension decreased from 2003 to 2016 for both sexes (20% to 14% among men and 16% to 11% among women).
The proportion of adults who were obese has increased since 1993 and was 26% in 2016. It has been at a similar level since 2010; between 25% and 27%.
Since 1993 there has been a steady decline in the proportion of men and women who were current smokers, from 28% to 20% in 2016 among men, and from 26% to 16% among women.
In 2016, 31% of men and 16% of women drank at a level indicating increased or higher risk of harm (more than 14 units per week). The proportion of both men and women drinking at increased or higher risk of harm decreased between 2011 and 2016 (from 35% of men and 18% of women).
The proportion of women meeting the current guideline level of physical activity increased from 53% to 56% between 2008 and 2016.The proportion of men meeting the guideline in the same period remained at similar levels (66% in 2008 and 65% in 2016).