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Smoking has decreased, overweight is increasing in Estonia

BC, Tallinn, 27.03.2015.Print version
According to the Estonian adult population health behaviour survey, made public on Friday by the Health Development Institute, the amount of daily smokers has started to decrease, but indicators of physical activity and overweight continue to be problematic, LETA/Delfi reports.

"Comparing the results of a study conducted in the spring of 2014 with the 2012 survey, it emerges that finally the share of daily smokers has decreased among both men and women in almost all age groups," study coordinator, senior researcher at the Health Development Institute Mare Tekkel said.

 

However, among men older than 45 years of age and women older than 25 years of age, the percentage of those who smoke more than 20 cigarettes a day has increased. "The share of e-cigarette users grew by more than three-fold," said Teklel. "Among young men aged 16-24, 42% had used it for at least a few times a year, among women 35% had. As age increased, use of e-cigarettes declined."

 

Tekkel pointed out about alcohol consumption that, although the share of people who consumed alcohol at least a few times a week, including beer, declined in almost all age groups, it is a warning sign that the share of people who at least once a month consumed six or more doses (i.e., the average person's alcohol poisoning threshold level) of alcohol increased – for men it increased to 50 and for women to 15%.

 

The physical exercise indicators continue to be problematic. 39% of men and 32% of women who can exercise as health permits them, do not exercise. This is probably one of the reasons why the proportion of overweight men has risen to 39% and that of women to 28%. However, the proportion of obese men remained at the same level (19%), and increased minimally among women (to 20%) but significantly increased among young men. Thus, approximately 60% of Estonian men and nearly a half of women have excessive weight.






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