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Majority of Basque adults battle chronic illness and obesity, new survey shows

Surging chronic conditions alongside risky lifestyle habits threaten to strain Euskadi’s health services.

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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.