Survey reveals: Israelis are obese, do not exercise and are not tested

August 2, 2022   

The National Center for Disease Control at the Ministry of Health published today (Tuesday) the fourth national health survey, conducted between 2018-2020. Promoting gender equality in employment? You could get a grant! • Here are all the details The survey interviewed 4,135 Israeli residents aged 21 and over by telephone. Half of the survey respondents were men (2,040) and half were women (2,095). According to the data, about two-thirds of the interviewees did not meet the Ministry of Health's recommendations for physical activity, with 29.81% of Jews and 26.31% of Arabs meeting the recommendations. The Ministry of Health's recommendations for physical activity are to engage in this activity at a moderate intensity, for at least 150 cumulative minutes per week or 75 minutes per week at a high intensity. In addition, activities to strengthen the body's muscles should be performed at least twice a week. It is estimated that lack of physical activity is the main cause of about 231% of women's and colon cancer cases, about 271% of diabetes cases, and about 301% of coronary heart disease cases. In addition, the rate of obesity and overweight in Israel is high compared to the rest of the world. According to the survey, 56% of the general population are overweight and obese. This rate is higher among Arabs (61.3%) compared to Jews (54.8%). Arab men presented the highest rate (65.9%) of obesity and overweight. According to the survey, the rate of tests for colon cancer detection (occult blood in the stool) in the age group eligible for testing (50-74) in the year preceding the survey is only 40%. This rate was higher among Arabs (50.1%) compared to Jews (38%). Colon cancer is the second most common cancer in Israel. The origin of most tumors is a benign polyp that becomes malignant. Early detection of the disease significantly improves the chances of recovery and survival, and therefore tests for early detection of cancer are of great importance. According to the Ministry of Health, approximately 27,000 people are diagnosed with invasive cancer in Israel each year. Approximately 12,000 people die from cancer each year, and since 1999, cancer has been the leading cause of death in the population. According to the survey, one in five Israelis smokes. The smoking rate among Arabs was higher (24.4%) than among Jews (19.1%). The highest smoking rate is among Arab men (38.2%), 1.7 times higher than among Jewish men (22.6%). The survey also examined health care consumption habits in Israel: The coronavirus pandemic has illustrated the importance and benefits of telemedicine services, which may bring about a positive change in the quality and accessibility of health care services provided to insured persons while increasing efficiency and reducing costs for the health system. According to the survey data, the use of telemedicine services was higher among Jews than Arabs, with 69.11% of Jewish respondents and 44.51% of Arab respondents using the Internet to make an appointment (to see a doctor or for a check-up). The data is also similar for inquiries regarding administrative matters (for example, financial obligations of the fund) as well as requests to renew prescriptions for regular medications (391% Jews and 19.21% Arabs). These data complement the broader picture in addition to the data presented in the public opinion survey on the level of service in the health system and its functioning for the years 2021-2022 by the Brookdale Institute and the Ministry of Health, which was conducted against the backdrop of the coronavirus pandemic. 66% of health fund insured persons used the Internet to view their personal information, 55% of whom made an inquiry via the website or app, and 44% conducted a telephone visit via video or chat with professionals. Director of the National Center for Disease Control at the Ministry of Health, Prof. Little Keinan Booker: "The objectives of the survey are to provide information on the health status of the adult population in Israel as a basis for determining policy and optimizing the allocation of resources in the areas of health. The survey is used to identify trends, detect special health conditions, and evaluate the success of intervention and health promotion programs. The survey presents an estimate of the prevalence rates of diseases and chronic conditions based on self-reporting, and assists in assessing the use of health services and examining patterns of health behaviors."'