Women put lives on line

UNHEALTHY habits are driving up disease and dementia in Australian women.

Women are still more likely to suffer vascular disease and stroke than men and face a higher risk of developing cognitive impairment and dementia, but the risks can be reduced by healthy lifestyle changes.

A new paper by the University of Melbourne has found that most females are not meeting the health guidelines that can help reduce the risk of death, disability and morbidity.

Less than a quarter of women do the recommended 75 minutes of exercise each week, only 20 per cent eat enough fruit and vegetables and more than half are considered overweight.

“It’s a dire situation,” lead researcher, neurologist Professor Cassandra Szoeke said.