It’s a pretty fair assumption to make that we Victorians enjoy the finer things in life – you know, like dining at fancy restaurants, sipping Champers at happy hour and indulging in a sweet treat here or there.
And sure, we like to keep fit – have you seen the Tan on a Saturday morning?! – but we certainly aren’t as loud and proud about it as, say, our friends in New South Wales and Queensland with their Lululemon uniforms, beachside gyms and penchant for green smoothies.
So it’s pretty surprising (and let’s be honest, kinda amusing) that Victoria has just been named the healthiest state in all of Australia. Yep, that’s right – according to new health risk report by insurance comparison website iSelect, Victorians have the healthiest habits with an overall score of 78.63 out of 100.
The data looked at key factors like alcohol intake, fruit and vegetable intake, smoking and exercise. Victorians excelled in two particular areas; interestingly, we’re least likely to exceed alcohol guidelines and most likely to meet exercise guidelines. Must be all that coffee we consume giving us a pep in our step. Our population also has the second-lowest percentage of adults who smoke daily.
The ACT and New South Wales were hot on our heels, receiving health scores of 67.24 and 64.66, respectively. And taking the title of the state with the unhealthiest habits is Queensland, which boasts the highest percentage of daily smokers and the lowest percentage of people meeting their fruit and veggie intake.
On a city level ranking, Greater Melbourne landed in second spot, falling short only to Greater Sydney. The research also showed that city-dwellers are more likely to be healthier than their regional neighbours, who have a higher percentage of alcohol use and smoking. The only category where non-capital regions did better in was vegetable consumption.
Feeling motivated to smash an acai bowl or go for a hike? Same – then we'll meet you for a cheeky bev. Because life's all about balance, right?
The healthiest states and territories in Australia, ranked:
1. Victoria (78.63)
2. ACT (67.24)
3. New South Wales (64.66)
4. South Australia (58.00)
5. Western Australia (39.02)
6. Tasmania (37.91)
7. Northern Territory (28.97)
8. Queensland (23.92)
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