New data released by France’s public health agency, Santé publique France, offers a detailed look at the health and well-being of adults across the country, with a specific focus on the Grand Est region. The 2024 Health Barometer examines key behaviors-including smoking, alcohol consumption, and physical activity-as well as mental health trends, providing critical insights for public health strategies. This year’s report marks the first time such indicators have been analyzed at a regional level, offering a granular understanding of health disparities within France.
Public health officials in France have released new data revealing insights into the health behaviors and perceptions of adults across the country, with a regional focus on the Grand Est region. The findings, published in the 2024 Health Barometer by Santé publique France, highlight trends in tobacco and alcohol consumption, physical activity, and mental health. Understanding these patterns is crucial for developing targeted public health interventions and improving overall well-being.
Santé publique France recently published its 2024 Barometer, designed to better understand “the health behaviors, perceptions, and determinants of people’s health.” This year’s report includes, for the first time, health indicators at the regional level. Data from the Grand Est region, gathered from 2,400 individuals aged 18 to 79, was analyzed across 15 key public health areas.
Key Findings for the Grand Est Region
- In 2024, 65.4% of adults aged 18 to 79 in the Grand Est reported their health as “very good” or “good.” This is slightly lower than the national average of 68%.
- The prevalence of daily smokers in the Grand Est is 19.8% among adults aged 18 to 79 (23.1% among men and 16.7% among women), representing approximately 800,000 daily smokers. This rate is higher than in other regions of France and the national average of 17.4%.
- 53.9% of adults aged 18 to 79 reported consuming alcohol in the past seven days. Of those, 21.6% exceeded recommended low-risk drinking guidelines, with rates of 29% among men and 14.6% among women. These results align with national trends, with men reporting slightly lower consumption than the national average and women slightly higher. For comparison, the rate in Brittany is 28.2% and in Ile-de-France, 19%.
- More than a quarter of individuals aged 18 to 79 (26.9%) reported spending more than seven hours per day sitting. This proportion was similar between men (26.3%) and women (27.5%) and is comparable to most other regions in France.
- 15.8% of adults aged 18 to 79 in the Grand Est reported experiencing a major depressive episode (MDE) in the past 12 months. This rate is consistent with national and regional averages across all genders.
Alcohol Consumption Patterns
The data challenges the common assumption that those with fewer financial resources consume the most alcohol. In the Grand Est, 25.5% of individuals aged 18-79 with a higher education level (above a bachelor’s degree) exceeded recommended low-risk drinking guidelines in the past seven days, compared to 20.3% of those with a lower education level or no degree. Additionally, 24.7% of adults who reported being financially comfortable exceeded these guidelines, compared to 21.2% of those who described their financial situation as “difficult or in debt.” The highest rates of exceeding guidelines were observed among managers and higher-level professionals (26.8%), while the lowest were among employees (15.7%). These findings mirror national trends.
“Even if socially advantaged categories more frequently exceed the guidelines, less favored populations remain particularly impacted by the negative effects of alcohol, notably due to more risky consumption patterns (significant occasional intoxication and more frequent daily consumption, more intense consumption and a higher risk of dependence),” notes Santé publique France.
The Barometers are available online.
Fabrice Barbian
*The recommended alcohol consumption guidelines in France to limit risks are as follows: no more than ten standard drinks per week, no more than two standard drinks per day, and having alcohol-free days each week.
