Europe has the highest rates of drinking and smoking, and more than half its population are overweight or obese, putting them at high risk of heart disease, cancer and o ther deadly diseases, the World Health Organisation said. Experts have warned young people today may live shorter lives than their grandparents
Alcohol and smoking rates are higher than anywhere else in the world… and 60% of the continent is too FAT
- WHO report warns of ‘alarming’ rates of smoking, drinking and obesity
- Almost 60% of Europeans are overweight or obese, and 30% smoke
- 11-year gap between the highest and lowest life expectancy rates
- On average 11 litres of pure alcohol are drunk per person each year
By lizzie parry for mailonline
PUBLISHED: 08:39 GMT, 23 September 2015 | UPDATED: 16:15 GMT, 23 September 2015
Young people in Europe may live shorter lives than their grandparents if the continent fails to tackle its bad habits, global experts have warned.
The region has the highest rates of drinking and smoking, and more than half its population are overweight or obese, putting them at high risk of heart disease, cancer and other deadly diseases, the World Health Organisation said.
Levels of premature mortality from non-communicable diseases (NCDs) – including cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases – are decreasing ‘quickly’, the WHO’s European Health Report said.
But levels of alcohol consumption, tobacco use and obesity remain ‘alarmingly high’ and this ‘could mean that this progress is not maintained’, it said.
‘Europeans drink and smoke more than anyone else. We are world champions – and it’s not a good record,’ said Claudia Stein, WHO Europe’s head of information, evidence, research and innovation.
She said Europeans live long and healthy lives, are are the ‘longest living region in the world’.
But, Ms Stein warned the ‘differences in health status between European countries are… inexplicably wide.’
There is an 11-year gap between the highest and lowest life expectancy rates in different nations, the report warns.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health
