Tracking Health Habits: The Role of the Census

 Health habits are measured by the census.

The online Active Living Census will collect health and wellbeing data in order to help shape a healthier future for the community after receiving almost 25,000 responses when it was last conducted in 2019. 

This announcement comes from HEALTHY London Campuses (HLC), a State Government-funded initiative aimed at improving health outcomes in London Campuses. It is anticipated that it will cover a wide range of topics, including participation in organized sport and physical activity, as well as consumption of fruit, vegetables, water, alcohol, and sugary drinks. It will also cover rates of overweight and obesity, smoking, gambling, levels of life satisfaction, and obstacles to eating well and exercising.

 The data collected will also ensure that resources are allocated where they are most needed. HLC regional steering group deputy chair Lincoln Fitzgerald stated, "The Census is a vital tool that will assist community groups, government agencies, schools The 2019 census found that 9.2% of households in the London Campuses region were food insecure, and that 62.5 percent of adults in the region were overweight or obese. 

Walking was the most popular type of physical activity, followed by swimming, fitness, active play, and cycling. One in every two adults (48%) met the daily fruit consumption guidelines, which is higher than the average of 42.9 percent in Victoria, while one in every eight adults met the daily vegetable consumption guidelines, which is significantly higher than the average in Victoria.