Health Related Behaviour
Alcohol: More men than women exceed recommended daily limit
Men and women who drank heavily on at least one day in the previous week: Great Britain, 2005
In Great Britain, men are more likely than women to exceed the recommended daily limits for consumption of alcohol. In 2005, 35 per cent of men and 20 per cent of women exceeded the recommended daily limit (four units and three units respectively) at least one day during the previous week. A further 19 per cent of men drank more than eight units and 8 per cent of women drank more than six units, double the recommended daily limit.
In Great Britain, the proportion of young men and women aged 16 to 24 who binge drink is higher than among any other age group. In 2005, around 30 per cent of men and 22 per cent of women drank more than twice the recommended daily amount on at least one day in the previous week. In 2007, 24 per cent of men and 13 per cent of women drank over the weekly recommendations (21 units for men and 14 units for women).
Since the 1970s the proportion of men and women who smoke in Great Britain has fallen. In 1974, around 50 per cent of men and 40 per cent of women reported that they were regular cigarette smokers. By 2005 this gap had closed, falling to around 25 per cent for both men and women. Overall, there continues to be a higher prevalence of smoking among men than among women. However, among young adults (aged 16-19) more women (26 per cent) smoke than men (23 per cent).
In 2006/07 in England and Wales, men reported higher levels of use of 'any illicit drugs' and 'Class A drugs' in their lifetime, in the last year and in the past month compared with women. The proportion using any illicit drug in the past year decreased for both sexes between 1998 and 2006/07 from 16 per cent to 13 per cent for men, and from 9 per cent to 7 per cent for women. In 2006/07, use of Class A drugs in the last year was 5 per cent for men and 2 per cent for women. This had increased for men since 1998 (4 per cent) but had stayed approximately the same for women over the period.
Prevalence of obesity in adults: by gender 1993-2005
In 2005, 23 per cent of men and 25 per cent of women aged 16 and over in England were obese (defined as having a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or over). This is an increase since 1993, when 13 per cent of men and 16 per cent of women were obese. In 2005, 43 per cent of men and 32 per cent of women were classified as overweight (a BMI of 25 to 29). This was consistent with the trend between 1993 and 2005, where men where more likely than women to be overweight.
From 1993 to 2005, the proportion of adults with a 'desirable' weight (a BMI of 18.5 to 24) decreased, from 41 per cent to 34 per cent for men and from 50 per cent to 42 per cent for women. In 2005, 2 per cent of both men and women were underweight (BMI less than 18.5).
The prevalence of obesity and those classified as overweight has also increased among children aged 2 to 15. In 1995, 11 per cent of boys and 12 per cent of girls were obese, but by 2005 this had risen to 18 per cent for both boys and girls.
Sources: General Household Survey (Longitudinal), Office for National Statistics; British Crime Survey, Home Office; Health Survey for England,2005 (2005), The Information Centre for health and social care.
Notes: The ONS definition of 'heavy' drinking is eight or more units for men and six or more units for women, or double the recommended daily limit, on at least one day in the week. This is often referred to as 'binge' drinking. The Department of Health is moving to a combination of daily and weekly recommendations.
Class 'A' drugs: includes heroin, cocaine (both cocaine powder and 'crack'), ecstasy, magic mushrooms, LSD and unprescribed use of methadone
Body Mass Index (BMI): the BMI for people aged 16 and over standardises weight for height and is calculated as weight (kg)/height (m2). Under the definition used above underweight is defined as a BMI score of under 18.5, desirable is 18.5 to less than 25, overweight is 25 to less than 30 and obese is 30 and over. The UK National BMI percentile classification is used for children aged under 16. This gives a threshold for each age, above which a child is considered overweight or obese.
printer-friendly
Focus on Gender home