title: Geographic variation and socio-demographic determinants of the co-occurrence of risky health behaviours in 27 European Union member states.
abstract: Risky health behaviours such as tobacco and alcohol abuse, physical inactivity and poor diet may play an important role in disease development. The aim of the present study was to assess the geographical distribution and socio-demographic determinants of risky health-related behaviours in 27 member states (MSs) of the European Union (EU).
  
  
  
  Data from the 2009 Eurobarometer survey (wave 72.3; n = 26 788) were analysed. Tobacco use, alcohol consumption, physical activity and fruit consumption were assessed through a self-reported questionnaire provided to participants from 27 EU MSs. Within the analyses, participants with three or more lifestyle risk factors were classified as individuals with co-occurrence of risk factors.
  
  
  
  Among respondents aged 15 or older, 28.2% had none of the aforementioned behavioural risk factors, whereas 9.9% had three or more lifestyle risk factors. Males [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 2.50; 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 2.17-2.88] and respondents of middle (aOR = 1.60; 95% CI: 1.36-1.89) or lower income (aOR = 2.63; 95% CI: 2.12-3.26) were more likely to report co-occurrence of behavioural risk factors, as well as respondents in Northern (aOR = 1.43; 95% CI: 1.14-1.78), Western (aOR = 1.28; 95% CI: 1.06-1.56) and Eastern Europe (aOR = 1.28; 95% CI: 1.06-1.55), when compared with Southern European respondents.
  
  
  
  The above analyses indicate significant geographical and social variation in the distribution of the co-occurrence of behavioural risk factors for disease development.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: F T
authors.initials: FT
authors.lastname: Filippidis
authors.affiliation: Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Center for Global Tobacco Control, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: I T
authors.initials: IT
authors.lastname: Agaku
authors.affiliation: Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Center for Global Tobacco Control, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA Clinic of Social and Family Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece.
authors.forename: C I
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Vardavas
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology; D004032:Diet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005062:European Union / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D062306:Geography, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000073599:Health Risk Behaviors; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D064890:Social Determinants of Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D064424:Tobacco Use / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: European Union; risky health behaviours; socio-demographic determinants