Source: The Mercury, 20 December, 1996, p.6 Source: The Mercury, 20 December, 1996, p.6
By KIM SWEETMAN in Canberra BEACHSIDE Christmas parties and backyard cricket matches this year will be attended by the most health conscious group of Australians to emerge in years. People are finally listening to a range of health messages, dra- matically increasing pre- ventative measures over the past half decade. Sun protection has be- come a national ob- session, with more than 80% of people regularly taking measures against skin cancer. The bronzed Aussie male is rapidly fading - men have doubled their use of sunscreens since 1990. Australians are thin- ner, healthier and feel better about themselves in the wake of what stat- istically appears to have been a five-year health kick. Smoking rates are down, exercise is growing in popularity and around 83% of people believe they are in good, very good or excellent health. Fewer people drink regularly than did five years ago. Bureau of Statistics fig- ures released yesterday show more people are tak- ing vitamins and trying herbal remedies. "Compared with results from a previous survey in 1989/90 the recent survey indicates an increase in healthier lifestyles by adult Australians," the ABS report said.
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