The most recent Health Interview Survey (2018) has shown some alarming results:
- only 30% spend at least 150 minutes per week doing moderate aerobic exercise
- in the population of 6 years and older, only 33% eat the recommended amount of fruit and only 38% the recommended amount of vegetables
- 49,3% of the population aged 18 years and older are overweight and 16% are obese
- 15,5% of the population aged 15 years and older smokes every day. This percentage has improved compared to 2001 (24%)
Time trends show that the reported levels of smoking are declining but at the opposite rates of obesity are predicted to continue rising. In addition, less optimal health behaviours are more frequent in socially disadvantaged population groups.
More information on the situation in Belgium can be found on the website of the Health Interview Survey.