Health in Lebanon
Life expectancy at birth in Lebanon in 2013 was 78 for men and 82 for women.
Smoking is prevalent, with a Gallup poll in May 2007 revealing that 41% of Lebanese people had smoked on the day before the survey. The World Health Organization 2009 survey of Lebanese between the ages of 25 and 64 found 47% of men smoked as did 32% of women. Packs of cigarettes cost $1.60 or less, depending on the brand, with the cheapest available for only 50c. Smoking was banned in public indoor places by Law n 174 apart from the hospitality sector in September 2011. It was extended to the hospitality sector in 2012. In September 2015 it was announced that the restriction was to be relaxed.
23.4% of boys and 19.7% of girls were overweight in 1996. Among university students at Lebanese American University in 2008, more male students were overweight or obese than female students. 37% of males were overweight and 13.6% were obese, while 13.6% of females were overweight and 3.2% were obese.
The current trend towards obesity is influenced by more than the shift from traditional Mediterranean to fast food. Individuals who had a low level of education, were non-smokers, and had a family history of obesity were more likely to have an unhealthy body weight. Although females at the Lebanese American University were more likely to snack between meals than their counterparts, they were subjected to the cultural notion that females need to be thin. Males did not have this societal pressure.
In 2015 there were 452,669 registered refugees in the country More than half live in 12 Palestine refugee camps. They are ineligible for state social services, including health care.
- "Lebanon". World Health Organisation. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
- "Lebanon smoking ban draws dismay and delight". BBC News. 4 September 2012. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
- "Lebanon’s Law 174 goes up in smoke". The National. 9 February 2015. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
- Yahia, Najat; et al. (2008). Eating Habits and Obesity among Lebanese University Students.
- "Health in Lebanon". UNWRA. Retrieved 22 December 2015.