Spain occupies a mid-table position with regard to the adoption of healthy lifestyle habits in Europe, though there are differences depending on the indicator considered: Spain has a healthier diet, but also a higher level of consumption of illegal drugs such as cocaine or cannabis. Twenty-three per cent of adults smoke on a daily basis, a percentage similar to the European average and one that represents an improvement over the past. Patterns of alcohol consumption are not easily comparable due to differences in national customs: Spain has comparatively more people who drink on a daily basis but also a higher percentage of people who are teetotal according to the data collected by Eurostat.
Adherence to the Mediterranean diet is often regarded as one of the factors that might explain the longer lifespan in countries such as Spain, which, together with France, leads the European ranking for this indicator. The Mediterranean diet, which is rich in fruit, vegetables, grains, legumes, fish and olive oil, is deemed by the World Health Organization to have proven positive effects on people’s health. According to the data for 2014, Spain stands out within the European Union as a country with a low percentage of the population who do not eat enough fruit and vegetables.
Along with diet, another factor that may have health-related consequences is citizens’ habits in relation to physical activity. Spain does not emerge in a positive light in this area: just over half (53.1%) of adults dedicate no time during the week to physical activities regarded as beneficial for health. According to this indicator, the European average is 50.7%, whereas the rates in countries with the lowest levels of sedentary lifestyles (Austria, Sweden, Finland and Denmark) are around 20%. The greatest age related differences in relation to the European average are to be found among senior citizens (aged over 65). In light of the importance of exercise in improving quality of life and preventing diseases (at any age), it is important to encourage physical activity, particularly among senior citizens.
Obesity is a growing health problem in Europe due to the combination of poor diets and insufficient physical activity. In 2014, Spain as a country had a prevalence of obesity higher than the European average. The problem tends to increase with age in all countries and does so particularly in Spain, where adults aged over 65 are comparatively more obese (23.8%) than the average of the EU-28 (19.9%). However, perhaps the most worrying trend in Europe, in addition to that among adults over the age of 65, is the rise in obesity among young people. The rate of obesity among adults aged 25 to 34 stood at 10% in the EU and at 11.2% in Spain.
With regard to drug use, in 2015 Spain was one of the five countries in the European Union with the highest prevalence of illegal drug use among teenagers and young adults aged 15 to 34. Cannabis is the most widespread illegal drug consumed by the European population. In most countries, the percentage of teenagers and adults aged 15 to 34 who had consumed cannabis in the previous twelve months rose between 2008 and 2016. However, Spain is one of the seven countries in the European Union where this consumption fell between 2008 and 2016.

