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September 24, 2015

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WHO: Smoking, drinking high in Europe

鈥淎larming鈥 rates of smoking, alcohol consumption and obesity in Europe could set back progress in reducing premature mortality, the World Health Organization said yesterday in a report on the region鈥檚 health.

While Europeans are living longer than ever before, there remain 鈥渦nacceptably high鈥 differences in life expectancy between countries, with an 11-year gap between the highest and lowest, the report said.

The first study of its kind for three years, the report covers 39 countries including European Union member states as well as former Soviet republics.

Levels of premature mortality from noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), including cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases, are decreasing 鈥渜uickly,鈥 the report said.

But levels of alcohol consumption, tobacco use and obesity remain 鈥渁larmingly high鈥 and this 鈥渃ould mean that this progress is not maintained,鈥 it said.

鈥淓uropeans live long lives and healthy lives. We are the longest living region in the world,鈥 said Claudia Stein, a senior WHO director for Europe.

But 鈥渢he differences in health status between European countries are... inexplicably wide.鈥

鈥淚f rates of smoking and alcohol consumption and obesity do not decline we may risk the gains in life expectancy we have seen 鈥 which may mean that the next generation may lead shorter lives than that we do?鈥 Stein said.


 

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