Belgians are smoking less and exercising more but spend a significant amount of time in front of screens, according to the findings of Belgium’s first national health survey since the Covid-19 pandemic, released on Thursday by the Sciensano research institute.
Screen time remains high, with seven out of ten Belgians aged 15 and over watching television or videos for at least two hours a day, but although overall screen time increases with age, social media usage declines as people get older, the study reveals.
Smoking rates have diminished, with daily smokers accounting for 12.8% of the respondents, compared to 15.4% in 2018; among these, 36% expressed a desire to quit within the next year.
The popularity of e-cigarettes is on the rise, with 6% of those aged 15 and over using them, up from 4% in 2018.
In terms of physical activity, the number of adults meeting the World Health Organisation’s recommendations during their leisure time has risen to 34.9%, compared to 30.1% in 2018. The WHO suggests that adults engage in three hours of moderate-intensity physical activity per week, while children and teenagers should do so for an average 60 minutes per day.
The daily alcohol consumption rate has dropped to 7.7% from 9.7% in 2018, but Sciensano warns that average alcohol consumption has not decreased, due to higher consumption among those who do not drink daily.
Sciensano conducts a major health survey in Belgium roughly every five years, focusing on issues such as weight status, physical activity, dietary habits, alcohol consumption, and smoking.
However, the institute cautions that since the survey captures a single point in time, no causal links can be established.
