Australians living longer but suffer more from chronic diseases

Australians are living longer but lifestyle-related chronic diseases are taking an increasing toll, the latest national health report card revealed on Wednesday.

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) report said Australians were living 25 years longer on average than a century ago, with men expecting to live to 79.9 years, and women to 84.

However chronic diseases linked to smoking, physical inactivity, poor nutrition and the harmful use of alcohol are the leading cause of illness and death, accounting for 90 percent of all fatalities.

AIHW Director and CEO David Kalisch said in a media release that damaging lifestyle behaviors lead to obesity, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol, which in turn can lead to cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer and mental health issues.

The report found that more than three in five adults are overweight or obese, nearly three in five do not exercise enough, and only 8 percent of adults were eating enough vegetables.

Among young adults, almost one in two were at risk from harm drinking alcohol each month.

The most common long-term health conditions afflicting older Australians 65 and over are arthritis, high blood pressure and hearing loss.