Overview

• The INE health survey reports that 71% of residents aged 15 and above suffer from at least one chronic disease, well above the national average of 56%.
• Nearly 212,200 adults (11.2%) are obese and another 230,000 are classified as extremely overweight, raising concerns about related complications.
• Dietary risks are high as 40% of respondents report daily consumption of sweets, nearly three times the state average.
• Risky behaviours extend to substance use, with 150,000 individuals admitting to intensive drinking at least once in the past month and 343,000 people smoking daily.
• Health issues have economic repercussions as around 305,000 Basques missed work due to illness in the past year.