The prevalence and clustering of alcohol consumption, gambling, smoking, and excess weight in an English adult population

Abstract

Background The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence and clustering of four health risks (increasing−/higher-risk drinking, current smoking, overweight/obesity, and at-risk gambling), and to examine variation across sociodemographic groups in the English adult population. Methods We analysed data from the 2012, 2015, 2016, and 2018 Health Survey for England (n = 20,698). Prevalence odds ratios (POR) were calculated to examine the clustering of risks. We undertook a multinomial multilevel regression model to examine sociodemographic variation in the clustering of health risks. Results Overall, 23.8% of the adult English population had two or more co-occurring health risks. The most prevalent was increasing−/higher-risk drinking and overweight/obesity (17.2%). Alcohol consumption and smoking were strongly clustered, particularly higher-risk drinking and smoking (POR = 2.68; 95% CI = 2.31, 3.11; prevalence = 1.7%). Higher-risk drinking and at-risk gambling were also clustered (POR = 2.66; 95% CI = 1.76, 4.01), albeit with a very low prevalence (0.2%). Prevalence of multiple risks was higher among men for all risk combinations except smoking and obesity. The odds of multiple risks were highest for men and women aged 35–64 years. Unemployed men and women with lower educational qualifications had a higher odds of multiple risks. The relationship between deprivation and multiple risks depended on the definition of multiple risks, with the clearest socioeconomic gradients seen for the highest risk health behaviours. Conclusion An understanding of the prevalence, clustering, and risk factors for multiple health risks can help inform effective prevention and treatment approaches and may support the design and use of multiple behaviour change interventions.