Health consciousness

IBISWorld expects health consciousness to increase by 0.5% in 2024-25, reaching 111.4 index points. A decline in the national smoking rate and per capita alcohol consumption, along with a rise in the apparent fruit and vegetable consumption levels, will support the rise in health consciousness. Per capita alcohol consumption is expected to fall as consumers move towards no-alcohol beer and wine options. However, obesity levels are set to rise as the ageing population is more likely to live sedentary lifestyles than their younger counterparts. The busier lifestyle of the younger population is also likely to contribute to increased consumption of fast food with high-fat content. These negative trends are expected to limit the health consciousness index growth in 2024-25.

Individuals' concerns regarding their health and well-being have increased over the past five years. The falling national smoking rate and per capita alcohol consumption have driven rising health consciousness. Rising taxes on tobacco products have helped reduce the nation's smoking rate. Government initiatives to discourage smoking and encourage smokers to quit have also contributed significantly to the falling smoking rate. Individual alcohol consumption has also declined over the past five years. Government-led campaigns to reduce alcohol-related harm have caused declines in per capita alcohol consumption. On average, current young Australians are consuming less alcohol than in previous generations.

Apparent fruit and vegetable consumption has increased over the past five years, with consumers increasingly trying to improve their diets, especially following the COVID-19 pandemic. Sport participation also increased over the past two years, which has limited the rise in obesity and placed upward pressure on the health consciousness index. Government initiatives to increase female participation in sports contributed to the rise in sport participation, but the pandemic caused drops in specific years. These factors have supported upward pressure on the health consciousness index and limited the rise in obesity. Overall, IBISWorld forecasts that health consciousness will rise at an annualised 0.4% over the five years through 2024-25.