While Europeans are living longer than ever before, increases in life expectancy and declines in premature mortality may "flatten off" if the three big lifestyle risk factors are not dealt with, a senior WHO director said.
In a report on the region's health, the WHO said there remain "unacceptably high" differences in life expectancy between countries, with an 11-year gap between the highest and lowest.
The first study of its kind for three years, the report covers 39 countries, including EU member states as well as former Soviet republics.
Levels of premature mortality from non-communicable diseases (NCDs) - including cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases - are decreasing "quickly," the report said.
But levels of alcohol consumption, tobacco use and obesity remain "alarmingly high" and this "could mean that this progress is not maintained," it warned.
"Europeans live long lives and healthy lives. We are the longest living region in the world," said Claudia Stein, a senior WHO director for Europe. But "the differences in health status between European countries are ... inexplicably wide."
"If rates of smoking and alcohol consumption and obesity do not decline we may risk the gains in life expectancy we have seen - which may mean that the next generation may lead shorter lives than that we do."
Although rates of smoking and alcohol consumption are declining in many parts of the continent, Europeans still smoke and drink more than people anywhere else in the world, according to the WHO.
It estimates that on average 11 liters of pure alcohol are drunk per person each year, while 30 percent of the population uses tobacco. Meanwhile obesity is increasing, with 59 percent of Europe's population either overweight or obese.
AFP
globaltimes.cn
23/9/5
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