A new report from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) sheds light on troubling health trends across Greece and the European Union (EU), revealing how lifestyle choices impact morbidity and mortality rates.
Titled Health at a Glance 2024, the study highlights the prevalence of risk factors like smoking, obesity, poor diets, and physical inactivity while presenting Greece’s unique position within the EU landscape.
Greece: High Obesity and Smoking Rates, Low Alcohol Consumption
Greece stands out in the report, ranking high on indicators related to obesity and smoking. However, it also claims the lowest alcohol consumption levels among EU countries. This mixed performance reflects the nation’s complex health profile amid broader European trends.
In 2021, lifestyle risk factors—such as smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, and high body mass index—were linked to approximately 1.1 million deaths in the EU, equating to 21% of total deaths that year. While Greece shows some progress in alcohol-related health outcomes, obesity and tobacco use remain significant challenges.
Lifestyle and Adolescent Health Trends
Unhealthy behaviours persist across the EU, with 18% of adults identified as regular smokers in 2022 and more than 50% of adolescents consuming insufficient fruits and vegetables. Furthermore, only 15% of the population met the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommendations for physical activity.
In Greece, as in other EU countries, poor diet and physical inactivity have fueled rising obesity rates. Among 15-year-olds, over 20% were overweight or obese in 2022, with the highest figures observed in Greece, Malta, and Romania. Socioeconomic disparities exacerbate the problem; obesity rates among adolescents from low-income families are over 60% higher than those from affluent households.
Smoking: A Leading Killer
Tobacco use remains the EU’s top preventable cause of death, claiming nearly 500,000 lives in 2021. In Greece, smoking rates remain high, with over 25% of adults smoking daily, far exceeding the EU average of 18.4%. This contributes significantly to cardiovascular diseases, respiratory illnesses, and cancer, particularly lung cancer, which accounts for 20% of cancer-related deaths in the EU.
Greece’s Role in Alcohol Consumption Trends
Greece emerges as an outlier in alcohol consumption, recording the lowest levels among EU countries at 6.3 liters per capita in 2022, far below the EU average of 10 liters. Comparatively, Latvia and Spain topped the list with nearly double Greece’s consumption.
The report highlights a modest decline in average EU alcohol consumption, with Greece leading the trend, reducing its per capita intake by 24% since 2010. This significant drop reflects national efforts to combat excessive drinking and may offer a model for other countries seeking similar outcomes.
Despite progress in some areas, the OECD report underscores the persistent prevalence of unhealthy habits across Greece and the EU. With tobacco and obesity continuing to strain healthcare systems and shorten life expectancy, experts call for renewed public health campaigns to address these challenges.