Results of the 2014–2015 ESTEBAN Study / Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior

The ESTEBAN study specifically examined levels of physical activity and sedentary behavior to supplement the data collected during the National Nutrition and Health Survey (ENNS) conducted by Santé publique France in 2006 and 2007. Conducted approximately every 7 years, ESTEBAN will enable the long-term monitoring of numerous health parameters and the identification of certain emerging trends. The latest data revealed the following:

• Physical inactivity and sedentary lifestyles are on the rise among the French population.

• Women are the most affected: over the past 10 years, the proportion of physically active women has dropped by 16%.

• More than one in five women are both sedentary and physically inactive.

• Physical activity levels remain low, and sedentary lifestyles are more prevalent among children in 2015.

  • 51% of boys and 33% of girls aged 6–17 met the WHO’s physical activity recommendations in 2015

  • Younger children (ages 6–10) were more active, and a clear decline in physical activity was observed after age 10, which was more pronounced among girls.

  • No significant change in this indicator has been observed since 2006, despite a trend toward improved physical activity levels among adolescents aged 15–17 over the period.

  • At the same time, screen time has increased considerably. The proportion of young people spending 3 hours or more in front of a screen each day reached 45% among 6- to 10-year-olds, 70% among 11- to 14-year-olds, 71% among girls, and 87% among boys aged 15–17.

These results underscore the need to promote physical activity and reduce sedentary behavior across all age groups.

Results of the 2014–2015 ESTEBAN Study / Overweight and Obesity 

The ESTEBAN study also examined the nutritional status of the population.
Among adults aged 18 to 74, in 2015, 54% of men and 44% of women were overweight or obese (BMI ≥ 25). This prevalence increased with age. The prevalence of obesity (BMI ≥ 30) was estimated at 17%, with no distinction between men and women. In terms of trends between the ENNS-2006 and Esteban-2015 data, the prevalence of overweight (including obesity) among adults remained stable, at around 49%, and the specific prevalence of obesity remained at 17% for the entire adult population. The prevalence of overweight (including obesity) also remained higher among those with the lowest levels of education.

Among children aged 6 to 17, in 2015, the prevalence of overweight (including obesity) was estimated at 17%, of whom 4% were obese. The prevalence of overweight (including obesity) decreased as the educational attainment of the household’s reference person increased. The prevalence of underweight was estimated at 13% overall and reached 19% among girls aged 11–14. Between 2006 and 2015, the prevalence of overweight (including obesity) among children remained stable. However, the prevalence of underweight status increased significantly from 8% to 13%, with this increase primarily affecting girls aged 11–14. The prevalence of overweight status (including obesity) remained higher among children whose household reference persons had the lowest educational attainment.

Results of the 2014–2015 ESTEBAN Study / Food Consumption

Overall, no major changes in dietary consumption were observed in France between 2006 and 2015, among both children and adults. The results showed that certain foods and nutrients remained public health concerns, notably:

• The proportion of saturated fatty acids in the diet was too high (only 17% of adults had saturated fatty acid intakes below 36% of total fat intake, and 16% of children below 37%);

• Low consumption of fish and seafood (only one-quarter consumed them twice a week, with a sharp decline in this proportion among children over the past ten years);

• Low fiber intake. Only 13% of adults and 2% of children consumed at least 25 g per day, which is one of the consequences of insufficient consumption of fruits and vegetables (28% of adults and 13% of children consumed at least 5 servings per day) and whole grain products and legumes (60% of adults and 71% of children had not consumed any during the three-day dietary survey).

• Excessive salt intake has increased over the past ten years (only 22% of adults and 40% of children consumed less than 6 g per day in 2015).

• Consumption of sugary drinks among children remained high (more than one-third consumed more than the recommended half-glass per day).

In general, those with higher levels of education reported diets more in line with recommendations, although social inequalities appeared to have narrowed over the past ten years. However, this may be due to a decline in dietary intake among those with higher levels of education between 2006 and 2015.

Results of the 2014–2016 ESTEBAN Study / Biological Assays

Overall, no significant deficiency or widespread deficiency was observed in the French population in 2015. However, these results highlight several areas of concern that must be taken into account to prioritize and guide targeted prevention efforts, particularly regarding:

• the increase in vitamin D deficiency among men over 55,

• the increasing prevalence of the risk of serum folate deficiency among women of childbearing age,

• the screening and treatment of iron deficiency in women of childbearing age,

• vitamin and mineral deficiencies linked to declining fruit and vegetable consumption in certain subpopulations.

Results of the 2006–2007 National Nutrition and Health Survey (ENNS)

The National Nutrition and Health Survey (ENNS) included 3,115 adults and 1,675 children over the course of one year. Among the subjects contacted and eligible, this represented a participation rate of 62.3% (59.7% among adults and 67.9% among children). In addition, 96.7% of the children were weighed and measured. More than three-quarters of the adults (77.5%) were also weighed and measured, and 67.5% had a blood sample taken.

Methodology

The methodological aspects of the distribution tables from the National Nutrition and Health Survey (ENNS) can be downloaded here