7. Health behaviours

Abstract

Health behaviours in adulthood influence health and wellbeing. Behaviours relating to diet, physical activity, smoking (both active and passive), alcohol and drugs, immunisation against vaccine preventable diseases, cancer screening, injury prevention, and exposure to environmental risk directly influence preventable disease and premature mortality throughout adulthood. The health behaviours measured in 2004 in the New South Wales Population Health Survey included alcohol intake, cancer screening (colorectal), cancer screening (breast and cervical), immunisation, injury prevention (smoke alarm or detector in the home), nutrition, physical activity, sexual health, smoking and exposure to tobacco smoke in the home and car, and sun protection.