This section covers lifestyle and behaviours factors among adults in Hull including local strategic need and service provision. This includes information relating to Alcohol Consumption, Diet and Nutrition, Drug Use, Gambling, Healthy Weight, Physical Activity, and Smoking and Vaping. Further information relating to lifestyle behaviours among children and young people is given under Lifestyle Factors within Children and Young People. Information on lifestyle behaviour was also collected within Hull’s Health and Wellbeing Surveys and full reports are available under Surveys within Tools and Resources. Further information on the guidelines and definitions used in relation to alcohol consumption, healthy weight and physical activity can be found within the Glossary under Tools and Resources.
Whilst general socio-economic, cultural and environmental conditions determine health and wellbeing, the way individuals live their lives in terms of lifestyles and behaviours can also have a dramatic effect on health and wellbeing. The association between health and wellbeing, and these behavioural and lifestyle factors is complex. Whilst these behavioural and lifestyle factors influence health and wellbeing and increase the risk of numerous diseases and medical conditions, poor health and wellbeing can also increase the likelihood of having an unhealthy lifestyle. For example, it is well known that people with poor mental health are much more likely to smoke and have unhealthier lifestyles, which exacerbates their poor mental and physical health.
Furthermore, mental health can also influence physical health, and physical health can also influence mental health. This can further influence behavioural and lifestyle factors as well as affecting other important areas of life such as educational and future employment opportunities, because of physical disabilities, stress, confidence, motivation, etc.
Societal norms also influence behaviour and lifestyle, for example, children growing up in homes with a smoker are much more likely to smoke themselves. Children often have less influence over their diet, and other lifestyle behaviours such as taking part in sports and activities outside school, as well as less ability to instigate change in these behaviours. Children and young people may then take these behaviours into adult life.
Updates
This page was last updated / checked on 19 March 2025.
This page is due to be updated / checked in March 2026.