Quitting smoking, exercising, or improving eating habits… every year, many French people set goals to improve their health. However, sticking to these resolutions can sometimes be difficult. Through its remote support services, Santé publique France offers a wide range of tools and advice for a healthier lifestyle and helps French people achieve the goals they’ve set for themselves.

Reducing alcohol consumption with alcool-info-service.fr

According to data from the 2021 Santé publique France Health Barometer, between 2020 and 2021, in France, the proportion of adults reporting that they exceeded the guidelines for lower-risk consumption decreased significantly (from 23.7% to 22.0%). This decline is observed primarily among men, younger adults, older adults, and those with the highest incomes. Furthermore, awareness of the guidelines for lower-risk alcohol consumption appears to be improving. However, alcohol consumption remains high, and the phenomenon of heavy episodic drinking (6 or more drinks on a single occasion) is well established: for example, one-quarter of men report having at least one heavy drinking episode per month. Moreover, this phenomenon is on the rise among women, particularly among those over 35.

The Dry January Challenge: Taking a Break from Alcohol

Every year, many French people decide to take part in the alcohol-free month challenge. Dry January, also known as the January Challenge, is promoted in France by a coalition of organizations. It gives everyone the opportunity to reflect on their alcohol consumption and reduce the risks associated with it. In 2021, 53% of people aged 18–75 had heard of the alcohol-free January challenge, and 4.5% reported changing their alcohol consumption as a result of the challenge—that’s more than 2 million people.

For the rest of the year, a variety of resources and tools are available to help people assess their alcohol consumption and make informed decisions to reduce health risks.

Quit Smoking with tabac-info-service.fr

Tobacco is the leading cause of preventable death in France as well as the leading risk factor. As a result, quitting smoking is one of the top New Year’s resolutions every year. In 2022, among adults aged 18–75, the daily prevalence of smoking remained steady, with more than three in ten people reporting that they smoke (31.8%) and one-quarter of daily smokers (24.5%). Social inequalities were also very pronounced, with the most disadvantaged smoking more than the most advantaged.

Furthermore, according to the Escapad survey conducted by the OFDT, for the first time since its inception, young people who have never tried tobacco are in the majority. In 2022, fewer than one in two 17-year-olds had ever tried tobacco, whether in the form of manufactured cigarettes or rolling tobacco. This decline is part of a broader decrease in the use of psychoactive substances, but at the same time, there has been a rise in vaping among younger generations, including the use of e-cigarettes, whose consumption patterns are similar to those of traditional cigarettes.

To help all smokers who want to quit, Santé publique France offers support, advice, and motivation through Tabac Info Service to help them succeed.

Eat Better and Get More Exercise with mangerbouger.fr

Changing eating habits, eating a more balanced diet, and exercising are among the New Year’s resolutions people make at the start of the year. The website Mangerbouger.fr positions itself as a resource for those who want to improve their eating habits and increase their physical activity.

Nutri-Score: What’s New in 2024!

This year, the Nutri-Score calculation method is changing to allow consumers to better compare products based on their nutritional quality. As a result, many products will see their scores change; between 30% and 40% of products are affected. It is not the composition of the products that is changing, but the way their scores are calculated.

Sexuality and Health

An increase in cases of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) has been observed in France for several years. Early screening and treatment of STIs are essential components of a comprehensive prevention strategy, helping to reduce the risk of transmission and the occurrence of complications. Cegidd and sexual health centers offer free screenings. To find them, an interactive map is available on the questionsexualite.fr website.

Santé publique France also aims to help French people better understand contraception. A questionnaire titled “Which Contraceptive Method Is Best for Me?” helps identify the contraceptive methods best suited to each individual’s lifestyle. This questionnaire is accompanied by a comparison chart outlining the advantages and disadvantages of different methods, which can be discussed with a healthcare professional.

In 2023, Santé publique France launched a campaign to normalize questions related to sexuality and encourage French people to find answers on questionsexualité.fr or by consulting a healthcare professional.

Protect yourself and others from winter viruses by following preventive measures

Every year, winter viruses cause outbreaks of the flu, gastroenteritis, bronchiolitis, and, in recent years, COVID-19. These illnesses affect millions of people and place a heavy burden on healthcare systems during the winter.

Vaccination to protect against severe forms

Vaccines are available against the flu and COVID-19 and help reduce the risk of developing severe forms of these diseases. Flu and COVID-19 vaccines are recommended for:

• people over the age of 65 or those with risk factors;

• pregnant women;

• healthcare professionals.

Since 2023, the seasonal flu vaccine has been available for children aged 2 to 17 without chronic conditions (comorbidities).

To learn more about the various vaccines, the website vaccination-info-service.fr is regularly updated and expanded, and features sections dedicated to each vaccine with numerous questions and answers that people in France may have.

Adopting simple measures to reduce the risk of infection

In addition, and to reduce the risk of infection, Santé publique France recommends adopting simple preventive measures:

• wear a mask if you have symptoms (cold, fever, sore throat, or cough), in crowded places, or around vulnerable people;

• wash your hands frequently with soap and water or with a hand sanitizer;

• ventilate your home regularly;

• sneeze into your elbow (rather than into your hands);

• use a disposable tissue.