By contacting the Spanish Embassy, you can become one of the representatives of the healthiest nation in the world. In its latest report, WHO recognized the Spanish as the healthiest nation on the planet. Life expectancy for women in Spain turned out to be the highest in Europe, which is another argument in favor of living in this country.
However, it is worth paying attention to the warning of the WHO: the number of people with obesity in Spain is constantly growing. 23.7% of Spanish adults have a clinical diagnosis of “obesity”. In addition, 60.9% of the adult population of the country are overweight, which is 1.7% more than 5 years ago.
Smoking and drinking alcohol can pose a threat to the Spanish health system and to the Spanish themselves. Excessive cigarette and alcohol consumption reduces the quality and length of life. However, the level of consumption of these things in Spain does not yet affect the country’s overall indicators.
The average life expectancy for women in Spain is 85.5 years, up from 85 years and 4.5 months in 2010. This means that women in Spain have been living even longer in the last 5 years.
The health of Spaniards is generally considered “exceptionally good” at present, a result of lifestyle, diet and the high level of health care in the country.
Men in Spain, despite having a shorter lifespan than women, have every chance of living to old age. In 2010, life expectancy for men was 79 years, 2 months and 1 week, and today this number has increased to 79 years and 4.5 months. Thus, today men live on average 5 weeks longer.
Although they are still far from women, who have the highest life expectancy in Europe. Men in Spain are ranked 9th in the world.
The country has seen a decline in mortality from all major causes, placing Spain at or below European levels. Deaths are most often caused by heart attacks, strokes, cancer, diabetes and respiratory problems. The incidence of these diseases among women is the lowest on the continent.
According to WHO data, the mortality rate from these causes in Spain is 2.212 people per thousand population, which places it in fourth place in Europe.
The death rate from accidents, poisoning, road accidents, murders and suicides is also below average. Spain is among the 15 countries in Europe with the lowest death rate.
However, in terms of cigarette consumption, Spain ranks 11th among 41 European countries. If we consider only female smoking, the country will be in 7th place.
Although Spain is still one of the healthiest countries in Europe and the world, the WHO is concerned about the rise in obesity. The Spanish are ranked 9th in this indicator. This is despite the health benefits of the Mediterranean diet. However, experts believe that obesity prevention should involve not only nutrition, but also physical activity. Unfortunately, the level of physical activity is declining among most Spaniards, especially among the younger generation. At the same time, Spain, with more than 300 sunny days a year, offers more favorable conditions for outdoor sports than the countries of Northern Europe.
Experts are concerned that if the number of people suffering from obesity continues to rise, Spain’s achievements in the field of health will be at risk. Obesity, like smoking and alcohol, can be consciously controlled.
