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[HEALTH] · Spain · 15 sources

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Spain health trends show rising chronic illness and obesity despite lower smoking rates

The 2025 Health Survey of Spain, published by the National Statistics Institute (INE), reveals a complex shift in public health trends. While daily tobacco consumption has reached a historic low of 15.4%, other health indicators have deteriorated.

Approximately 66.2% of the population over 15 years old reports suffering from a chronic illness, an increase of 8.5 percentage points since 2023. The most common issues include high cholesterol (21.1%), hypertension (20%), and chronic lower back pain (17.8%). Obesity also remains a significant concern, affecting 17.2% of adults.

Mental health and lifestyle habits show concerning trends. Depressive symptoms have risen, affecting 16.2% of the population. Additionally, alcohol consumption has increased, with 8.9% of people reporting daily drinking and 35.1% drinking habitually.

Regarding tobacco, while active smoking is down, a study by the Spanish Society of Pulmonology and Thoracic Surgery (SEPAR) suggests a potential rise in passive smoking exposure, which increased from 21.3% in 2011 to 23.8% in 2024, potentially due to electronic cigarettes and outdoor terrace exposure.

Entities

Benjamin Toll · Instituto Nacional de Estadística · JAMA Pediatrics · Medical University of South Carolina · Ministerio de Sanidad · Sociedad Española de Neumología y Cirugía Torácica · Spain

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