Smoking on the decline but fresh fruit and vegetables are a rarity among men, women

Written by By Leah Tindill.

INDIGO Shire residents are unhealthy.

That’s according to statistics from the Victorian population health survey that show a high number of both male and female adults abuse their bodies.

The detailed survey asked a range of questions from participation in physical activity to eating and smoking habits.

Figures showed that only 19.1 per cent of Indigo adults abstained from alcohol in the past 12 months, with women being the worst offenders.

Minister for Health and Aging David Davis said that while Indigo Shire had fared better than other regional towns, most areas of health need improving.

Mr Davis said that the overall numbers of Indigo adults who answered as regular smokers had dropped from 24.1 in 2001 to fewer than one in five.

And around 20 per cent of males and 17 per cent of females identified as ‘occasional smokers’.

"I’m pleased to see that fewer than one in five adults aged 18 years or over were regular smokers," he said.

"The reduction of smoking rates shows that people, when given support, can and do take control of their own health and lifestyle and take positive steps to improve their wellbeing."

But daily intakes of fresh fruit and vegetables were staggeringly low, with elderly people more likely to consume sufficient servings.

"Just 52 per cent of people surveyed for the current report met the recommended minimum daily intake of two or more serves of fruit," he said.

"And less than one in 10 met the target of five or more serves of vegetables each day."