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Welsh Health Survey | Our findings

 

Os byddai'n well gennych weld y wybodaeth hon yn Gymraeg, cliciwch yma.

Here are some key findings from the 2010 survey:

General health and illness

The Welsh Health Survey includes questions about health and illness along with a standard set of questions about health and wellbeing, known as the SF-36.

The SF-36 scores for physical and mental health status were higher for men than women, indicating better health and wellbeing among men.

17% of adults reported that their health in general was excellent, 34% very good, 29% good, 14% fair, and 6% poor.

Chart showing general health status reported by adults in Wales

Limiting long-term illness

Around a quarter (27%) of adults reported having a limiting long-term illness.

The percentage of adults reporting a limiting long-term illness increased with age, from 7% of adults aged 16-24 to 64% of those aged 75+.

Chart showing the percentage of adults reporting a limiting long-term illness, by age

Illness

The figure below shows the percentage of adults currently being treated for different illnesses, or having difficulties with their hearing or eyesight.

Lifestyle

WHS also asks questions about health related lifestyle, including smoking behaviour, alcohol consumption and physical activity.

Three in ten adults (30%) met physical activity guidelines.

Just under a quarter (23%) of adults reported that they smoked.

Around a fifth (21%) of adult non-smokers reported being regularly exposed to other people's tobacco smoke indoors, a third (33%) indoors and outdoors.

Over four in ten adults (44%) reported drinking above government guidelines on at least one day in the past week.

Height, weight and BMI

Adults were also asked to report their height and weight.

The 'average man' was 5ft 10in (177cm) tall and weighed 13st 4lb (84kg).

The 'average woman' was 5ft 4in (162cm) and weighed 10st 13lb (69kg).

Body Mass Index (BMI) was calculated based on adults' reported height and weight.

Chart showing the Body Mass Index category of adults

Recent use of health services

Participants were asked about the health services that they have used recently, such as GPs, hospital visits, dentists and opticians.

One in six adults, (17%) reported that they had talked to a GP about their own health in the past two weeks.

Around a third (32%) of adults reported attending a hospital outpatient department in the past twelve months.

Just over half (52%) of adults reported being on regular prescribed medication. The percentage increased with age.

Around seven in ten adults (69%) reported visiting a dentist in the past 12 months.

The health of children

Although the main focus of the Welsh Health Survey is adults, it also includes some information about children.

The majority of children reported very good or good general health: 68% of children were reported to have very good general health and 26% good.

One in five (20%) children were reported as having a long-standing illness (most commonly asthma).

The majority of children fell within the normal Body Mass Index (BMI) range, although nearly two in five children (36%) were classified as overweight or obese.

Find out more

You can read more detailed results from the Welsh Health Survey here.