Young Australians getting fatter due lack of exercise: report

Thirty percent of young Australians aged between 15 and 24 are overweight or obese, and more than half of them lead sedentary lifestyles, although the Australian youth's smoking rate is among the lowest in the world, a latest research report showed on Friday.

The study, by the Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth (ARACY), found young Australians are getting fatter and using more drugs. It also said teenage pregnancy rates are well above the international average and youth unemployment is rising.

This snapshot, which ARACY said is the first of its kind in Australia, has prompted a call for a new way to curb the social and health issues plaguing youngsters.

According to the report, the rate of youth suicide is falling but Australia is still ranked only 20th of 33 countries in the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

Australia actually ranked poorly on early childhood measures, ARACY chief executive Lance Emerson said in a program of ABC.

"For example, we know that quality pre-school education is a really effective way of getting kids off to a good start, yet our participation rates aren't as high as they should be," he said. " Around 23 percent of children are entering primary school with significant developmental vulnerability, which means they're going to find it really hard to catch up."