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Britons are making healthier lifestyle choices than 40 years ago Ingrid Torjesen London British adults are half as likely to smoke as they were four decades ago and are drinking less heavily and less frequently, show data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) 2011 General Lifestyle Survey. The survey’s report, launched at a press conference in London on 7 March, also shows that despite the ageing population, the proportion of people in Great Britain living with a longstanding illness or disability has remained steady over the past 20 years at just under a third. 1 The 2011 report marks 40 years of the survey. When the ONS survey first included questions about smoking in 1974, it found that 45% of adults smoked (51% of men, 41% of women). Since then, rates of smoking have more than halved and the gap in prevalence of smoking between men and women has narrowed; in 2011, 20% of adults smoked (21% of men, 19% of women). Although fewer people smoke now than in the 1970s, women who still do smoke consume similar numbers of cigarettes (12 per day in 2011 compared with 13 in 1974), and consumption has fallen only slightly in men—from 18 cigarettes per day in 1974 to 13 in 2011. Alongside smoking, the proportion of adults drinking heavily or frequently has also fallen. Among 16-24 year olds, the proportion of men drinking more than eight units (double the recommended maximum for men) in one day in the past week fell by almost a third in four years (from 32% in 2007 to 22% in 2011). The proportion of women drinking more than six units (double the recommended maximum for women) in any one day fell by a quarter over the same time period, from 24% to 18%. The proportion of men drinking on five or more days in a week fell from 23% in 1998 to 16% in 2011, while the proportion of women drinking at least five times per week fell from 13% to 9%. However, the survey found that older people were far more likely than younger people to drink frequently. In 2011, men aged 45 years or more were more than twice as likely to drink five times or more per week as those aged 16-44 years. While the survey shows improving lifestyle choices, the population has also aged. Between 1971 and 2011, the proportion of the population aged 65 years or over increased from 13.3% to 16.5%. 2 However, this ageing has not been reflected in the overall prevalence of longstanding illness or disability. In 1972, 21% of the population reported living with a longstanding illness or disability. This proportion rose to 32% in 1991 and has remained steady since. The most common longstanding illnesses reported were musculoskeletal illnesses, followed by heart and circulatory conditions, respiratory illnesses, and endocrine and metabolic conditions. However, the proportion of people living with a longstanding illness or disability that had a limiting effect on them has increased from 15% in 1975 to 19% in 2011. “The likelihood of you having a longstanding illness grows with age and our data shows that,” said Fiona Dawe, statistician at the ONS. “Since the 1990s, the advances in medical technology in terms of longstanding illness are offsetting the impact of the ageing population on the proportion with a longstanding illness.” 1 Office for National Statistics. An overview of 40 years of data (General Lifestyle Survey Overview—a report on the 2011 General Lifestyle Survey). March 2013. www.ons.gov. uk/ons/rel/ghs/general-lifestyle-survey/2011/rpt-40-years.html. 2 Office for National Statistics. Statistical bulletin: 2011 census—population and household estimates for England and Wales, March 2011. July 2012. www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/census/ 2011-census/population-and-household-estimates-for-england-and-wales/stb-e-w.html# tab-How-the-population-of-England-and-Wales-has-changed-over-the-last-100-years. Cite this as: BMJ 2013;346:f1583 © BMJ Publishing Group Ltd 2013 For personal use only: See rights and reprints http://www.bmj.com/permissions Subscribe: http://www.bmj.com/subscribe BMJ 2013;346:f1583 doi: 10.1136/bmj.f1583 (Published 11 March 2013) Page 1 of 1 News NEWS

Britons are making healthier lifestyle choices than 40 years ago

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Britons are making healthier lifestyle choices than 40years agoIngrid Torjesen

London

British adults are half as likely to smoke as they were fourdecades ago and are drinking less heavily and less frequently,show data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) 2011General Lifestyle Survey.The survey’s report, launched at a press conference in Londonon 7 March, also shows that despite the ageing population, theproportion of people in Great Britain living with a longstandingillness or disability has remained steady over the past 20 yearsat just under a third.1

The 2011 report marks 40 years of the survey. When the ONSsurvey first included questions about smoking in 1974, it foundthat 45% of adults smoked (51% of men, 41% of women). Sincethen, rates of smoking have more than halved and the gap inprevalence of smoking betweenmen and women has narrowed;in 2011, 20% of adults smoked (21% of men, 19% of women).Although fewer people smoke now than in the 1970s, womenwho still do smoke consume similar numbers of cigarettes (12per day in 2011 compared with 13 in 1974), and consumptionhas fallen only slightly in men—from 18 cigarettes per day in1974 to 13 in 2011.Alongside smoking, the proportion of adults drinking heavilyor frequently has also fallen. Among 16-24 year olds, theproportion of men drinking more than eight units (double therecommended maximum for men) in one day in the past weekfell by almost a third in four years (from 32% in 2007 to 22%in 2011). The proportion of women drinking more than six units(double the recommended maximum for women) in any oneday fell by a quarter over the same time period, from 24% to18%.The proportion of men drinking on five or more days in a weekfell from 23% in 1998 to 16% in 2011, while the proportion ofwomen drinking at least five times per week fell from 13% to

9%. However, the survey found that older people were far morelikely than younger people to drink frequently. In 2011, menaged 45 years or more were more than twice as likely to drinkfive times or more per week as those aged 16-44 years.While the survey shows improving lifestyle choices, thepopulation has also aged. Between 1971 and 2011, theproportion of the population aged 65 years or over increasedfrom 13.3% to 16.5%.2 However, this ageing has not beenreflected in the overall prevalence of longstanding illness ordisability. In 1972, 21% of the population reported living witha longstanding illness or disability. This proportion rose to 32%in 1991 and has remained steady since. The most commonlongstanding illnesses reported were musculoskeletal illnesses,followed by heart and circulatory conditions, respiratoryillnesses, and endocrine and metabolic conditions. However,the proportion of people living with a longstanding illness ordisability that had a limiting effect on them has increased from15% in 1975 to 19% in 2011.“The likelihood of you having a longstanding illness grows withage and our data shows that,” said Fiona Dawe, statistician atthe ONS. “Since the 1990s, the advances in medical technologyin terms of longstanding illness are offsetting the impact of theageing population on the proportion with a longstanding illness.”

1 Office for National Statistics. An overview of 40 years of data (General Lifestyle SurveyOverview—a report on the 2011 General Lifestyle Survey). March 2013. www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/ghs/general-lifestyle-survey/2011/rpt-40-years.html.

2 Office for National Statistics. Statistical bulletin: 2011 census—population and householdestimates for England andWales, March 2011. July 2012. www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/census/2011-census/population-and-household-estimates-for-england-and-wales/stb-e-w.html#tab-How-the-population-of-England-and-Wales-has-changed-over-the-last-100-years.

Cite this as: BMJ 2013;346:f1583© BMJ Publishing Group Ltd 2013

For personal use only: See rights and reprints http://www.bmj.com/permissions Subscribe: http://www.bmj.com/subscribe

BMJ 2013;346:f1583 doi: 10.1136/bmj.f1583 (Published 11 March 2013) Page 1 of 1

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