Welsh Health Survey 2007

These statistics on the health and health-related lifestyle of people living in Wales are based on data from the Welsh Health Survey 2007. Some initial headline results from the survey were published on 29 May 2008. The main report published now includes more detailed information; local authority results are provided in an accompanying statistical bulletin.

Illnesses and health status:

• 17% of adults reported that their health in general was excellent, 34% very good, 29% good, 15% fair, and 6% poor.
• 20% of adults reported currently being treated for high blood pressure, 14% for a respiratory illness, 13% for arthritis, 9% for a heart condition (other than high blood pressure), 9% for a mental illness, and 6% for diabetes.
• 27% of adults reported having a limiting long-term illness.

Health-related lifestyle:

• 24% of adults reported that they currently smoked.
• 42% of adult non-smokers reported being regularly exposed to other people's tobacco smoke.
• 36% of adults reported drinking above the guidelines on at least one day in the past week, including 20% who reported binge drinking.
• 46% 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% obese.

Health service use:

• 17% of adults reported that they had talked to a GP about their own health in the past two weeks, and 20% reported attending a hospital outpatient department in the past three months.
• 78% of adults reported using a pharmacist in the past twelve months, 69% a dentist and 48% an optician.

Health of children:

• 69% of children were reported to have very good general health, 25% good, and 6% fair.
• 20% of children were reported as having a long-standing illness, including 7% with a limiting long-standing illness.
• 36% of children were estimated to be overweight or obese, including 20% obese(1).

(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 or with adult estimates.

Contact

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