Lisbon, March 4, 2026 (Lusa) - Poor eating habits were associated with 7.9% of deaths in Portugal in 2023 and 5.3% of years of healthy life lost, ranking among the five risk factors that contributed most to the burden of disease in the country.
The data comes from the Global Burden of Disease Study (GBD) report, released on Wednesday by Portugal's national health authority (DGS), which marks World Obesity Day with the publication of the "Manual for Behavioural Change in the Treatment of Obesity", which brings together structured strategies to support changes in eating habits and physical activity.
According to the report, high consumption of red meat, processed meats and salt, as well as insufficient consumption of whole grains, vegetables and oilseeds, were the unhealthy eating habits that contributed most to Portuguese people living fewer years of good health in 2023.
Low consumption of whole grains is the dietary risk factor that contributed most to the burden of disease, both in terms of mortality and years of unhealthy life (DALYs), highlighting the importance of the quality of carbohydrate sources in promoting health.
Among the risk factors contributing to the burden of disease in Portugal, metabolic factors such as high plasma glucose, high body mass index (BMI) and high blood pressure already exceed the contribution of poor eating habits.
"This suggests that metabolic changes potentially associated with poor dietary patterns already make a more significant contribution to the overall burden of disease," the report stresses.
In particular, excess weight has been rising among the risk factors that contribute most to the burden of disease in Portugal: in 2023, it ranked second in total DALYs (8.2%) and third in total deaths (8.6%).
In addition, it was the second fastest growing risk factor in the period under review (2010-2023), with a 9% increase in total DALYs and an 8% increase in total deaths.
"Over the last 20 years, there has been a 23% increase in the contribution of excess weight to the loss of healthy years of life and a 22% increase in total deaths associated with high BMI. Even so, the pace of growth has slowed in the last decade (2010-2023)," the DGS points out in a statement.
In terms of temporal evolution, data from 2010 to 2023 confirm the trend already observed between 2000 and 2021, showing an increase in the impact associated with high consumption of sugary drinks and processed meat, as well as low consumption of vegetables.
"These data reinforce the relevance of the public health measures that the national health authority has been technically supporting over the last few years in terms of promoting healthy eating habits and preventing obesity," the document reads.
The Global Burden of Disease Study is an international study that collects information from 204 countries, with the aim of providing information on the diseases and risk factors that contribute most to mortality and loss of healthy years of life.
The study is coordinated by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington and has the collaboration of the DGS.
The manual published by the DGS includes practical tools aimed at health services and professionals, namely counselling guides and behavioural self-monitoring tools.
This document responds to the Roadmap for Accelerating Prevention and Control of Obesity and the Integrated Care Pathway for People with Obesity, published by the DGS in 2025.
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