title: The Queensland Cancer Risk Study: behavioural risk factor results.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the population prevalence of key cancer risk behaviours in Queensland.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Queensland Cancer Risk Study was a population-based survey of 9,419 Queensland residents aged 20-75 years. Information was collected through an anonymous, computer-assisted telephone interview between February and November 2004. Outcome measures included tobacco smoking, alcohol consumption, sun-tanning and sunburn, obesity, physical inactivity and poor diet, weighted by age, gender and geographic region.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Prevalence of current smoking was 25.2% for males and 20.8% for females and was highest in the 20-39 year age group and in rural/remote areas. Two-thirds of participants regularly drank alcohol; of these, 63% consumed excessive amounts of alcohol. Excessive sun exposure is still a problem; 70% of Queenslanders reported an episode of sunburn and 12% reported attempting to get a suntan in the past year. More than half of the respondents (53.9%) were above the healthy weight range, and 17.1% of males and 18.4% of females were obese. Just over 40% of Queensland adults reported having insufficient levels of physical activity. Fewer than half of the participants met recommended levels of fruit or vegetable consumption.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The majority of Queensland adults exhibit known, modifiable cancer risk behaviours. These results suggest that continuing efforts to reduce the prevalence of these risk factors are warranted. Specifically, significant gains could be made by targeting behaviour change programs at younger Queenslanders (aged 20-39 years), men, and those living in remote/ very remote areas of Queensland.
authors.affiliation: Viertel Centre for Research in Cancer Control, Queensland Cancer Fund, Spring Hill, Queensland. traceydisipio@qldcancer.com.au
authors.forename: Tracey
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: DiSipio
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rogers
authors.forename: Beth
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Newman
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Whiteman
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Eakin
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fritschi
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Aitken
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011793:Queensland; D012307:Risk Factors