Welsh Health Survey 2009: Initial Headline Results

These statistics on the health and health-related lifestyle of people living in Wales are based on data from the Welsh Health Survey 2009. The release contains some initial headline results from the 2009 Welsh Health Survey. The main report of the survey will include more detailed information and will be published in September.

The key points from the latest release are:

Illnesses and health status in adults:

• 20% of adults reported currently being treated for high blood pressure, and 9% for a heart condition (other than high blood pressure).
• 13% of adults reported currently being treated for a respiratory illness, 13% for arthritis, 10% for a mental illness, and 6% for diabetes.
• 27% of adults reported having a limiting long-term illness.

Health-related lifestyle in adults:

• 24% of adults reported that they currently smoked.
• 22% of adult non-smokers reported being regularly exposed to other people's tobacco smoke indoors.
• 45% of adults reported drinking more than the daily guidelines on at least one day in the past week, including 27% reporting binge drinking.
• 35% of adults reported eating five or more portions of fruit and vegetables the previous day.
• 29% of adults reported meeting the guidelines for physical activity in the past week.
• 57% of adults were classified as overweight or obese, including 21% classified as obese.

Health of children:

• 94% of children were reported to have very good or good general health.
• 20% of children were reported as having a long-standing illness, including 6% with a limiting long-standing illness.
• 34% of children were estimated to be overweight or obese(1), including 19% obese.

(1) Using a classification system based on the 85th and 95th percentiles of the 1990 UK BMI reference curves, and not comparable with estimates produced on a different basis.

Contact

Tel: 029 2082 6710
E-mail: stats.healthinfo@wales.gsi.gov.uk

Next update

September 2010 (provisional – to be confirmed on the ‘Due Out Soon’ page)