This chapter examines modifiable risk factors affecting the health of adolescents and adults in the European Union (EU), including tobacco use, alcohol consumption, illicit drug use, poor nutrition, physical inactivity, overweight and obesity, and environmental hazards such as extreme temperatures and air pollution. Although adolescent smoking rates have decreased in most EU countries over the past decade, the increasing use of e‑cigarettes among youth has become a growing concern. Adult smoking rates have also decreased in nearly all EU countries over the past decade, but still averaged over 18% in 2022. Binge drinking remains a significant problem among adolescents, with nearly 25% of 15‑year‑olds having been drunk more than once in their life in 2022. Adult alcohol consumption averaged 10 litres per person in 2022, a small reduction of 3% since 2010. One in five adults reported heavy episodic drinking at least monthly in 2019. Cannabis use among people aged 15‑34 in the past year reached 15% on average in 2022, with rates of 20% or higher in Czechia, Italy and Croatia. When it comes to nutrition habits, in 2022, more than 50% of 15‑year‑olds did not consume fruit or vegetables daily, while one in seven consumed sugary soft drinks each day. Among adults, only about 60% consumed fresh vegetables and fruit daily, with significant socio-economic disparities. Insufficient physical activity is a widespread issue, with only 15% of 15‑year‑olds and about one‑third of adults meeting WHO recommendations on minimum physical activity per day or week. As a consequence of poor nutrition habits and physical inactivity, over 20% of 15‑year‑olds and more than 50% of adults were overweight or obese in 2022, with notable inequalities by socio-economic status. Environmental risks, such as air pollution and extreme temperatures, pose increasing health threats. In 2021, exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) alone caused over 253 000 deaths in the EU, with the highest mortality rates in Central and Eastern Europe. The EU has set ambitious targets to reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, aiming for a 55% reduction in premature deaths due to PM2.5 by 2030 compared to 2005 levels.
Health at a Glance: Europe 2024
State of Health in the EU Cycle
Health at a Glance: Europe
