Islanders benefit from healthy lifestyles

Long-term perspective

Good health is key to individuals' wellbeing and brings many benefits, including enhanced access to education and the job market, better productivity, reduced health care costs, good social relations, and of course, a longer life. Preventable chronic diseases are now amongst the main causes of disability and death in Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development member countries. People who do not smoke, drink alcohol in moderate quantities, are physically active, eat a balanced diet, and who are not overweight or obese have a much lower risk of chronic ill health and early death than those who have unhealthy habits.