The gap in health standards of Australia’s rich and poor will continue to widen if healthy-living programs aren’t directed at the poor, new research shows.
A UQ report found bad health habits such as smoking, lack of exercise and obesity were increasing for the poor.
Men living in the poorest neighbourhoods were about twice as likely to smoke than men from wealthier areas.
The report analysed data from the last three National Health Surveys in 1989, 1995 and 2001.
“These inequalities in lifestyle have been increasing suggesting that the health of the poor will not improve to the same extent as the health of the more affluent,” lead author UQ Sociology Professor Jake Najman said.
“The gap in health outcomes may continue to grow unless programs to target smoking and physical activity are specifically directed to the most economically disadvantaged.”
Overall, researchers found men had less healthy lifestyles with about two-thirds of men and three-quarters of women reporting sedentary or low levels of physical activity
Professor Najman said improving diet, alcohol use and exercise patterns for the poor should be a national priority.
“These inequalities are evident from early childhood and a variety of policies are needed if we are to improve the outcomes for the most economically disadvantaged,” he said.
“Healthy living policies are needed from the cradle to the grave.”
He said this would help improve the poor’s general worse health and shorter life expectancy compared to those more affluent.
Despite improved public bike paths, walkways and recreation facilities, he said there was little evidence that they were being used widely and particularly by poorer groups.
“There is a real need to learn more about the social and physical barriers which limit higher levels of physical activity by the most socioeconmically disadvantaged.”
Dr Ghasem Toloo and Dr Victor Siskind were co-authors of the paper which has appeared in the Bulletin of the World Health Organisation.
MEDIA: Professor Najman (0411 043 490, 07 3365 5180, j.najman@sph.uq.edu.au) or Miguel Holland at UQ Communications (07 3365 2619)
