Belgian youth start smoking later, study shows

Young people in Belgium smoke their first cigarette later and later, according to a study by the World Health Organization (WHO). The number of 15-year-old boys who started smoking by the age of 13 dropped from 26- to 22% over a period of four years, and from 22- to 13% among girls, the study shows.

While the results at first glance may seem encouraging, the Belgian figures are nonetheless above the European average, which saw the number of 15-year-olds across Europe who had their first cigarette by the age of 13 drop from 24- to 17% in the same period. The study also reveals that there are major differences between boys and girls in terms of health, and that social backgrounds play a major role.

The 'Health Behaviour in School-aged Children' study (HBSC) is conducted every four years in 44 countries and regions across Europe and North America with an aim to gain insight into young people's well-being, health behaviours and their social context. The survey examines the health and lifestyle choices of some 220,000 young people aged 11, 13 and 15.