Greener, Greyer and Fatter

The 2004 Year Book Australia has just been published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. This year's edition has an underlying Indigenous theme as well as covering the standard national statistical and special interest areas. Some standout findings include - households are getting smaller with an ageing population, fewer couples having children, and more one-parent families. Seven out of ten Australian households live in their own home, and 90% of owners live in separate houses. Walking is the most popular form of exercise for Australian adults, but 32% of adults remain physically inactive, leading to there being 6.5 million overweight or obese adult Australians. Nearly all Australian households participate in some form of recycling and there is increased use of insulation, window applications to regulate heat, fluorescent or energy saving lights, and water conserving devices.