Health determinants are aspects of a person’s lifestyle or health-related behaviours that can have a positive or negative impact on their health. Health determinants can include factors such as body weight, nutrition, physical exercise, alcohol use and smoking. For body mass index (BMI), almost a quarter (23.8%) of people aged 18 years and over were classified as being obese. Three in ten (30.1%) of those aged 55 to 64 years were classified as being obese, in comparison to 13.6% of those aged 18 to 24 years of age.

Alcohol use - Over four in five (81.1%) people aged 18 years and over drank alcohol in the past 12 months, with 40.6% drinking at least weekly. The percentage of people aged 18 years and over who drank alcohol at least weekly in the past 12 months was lowest for those aged 18 to 24 years of age (26.7%) and highest for those aged 55 to 64 years (55.9%).

Data tables:

• IH452 Frequency of alcohol consumption of persons aged 18 years and over
• IH453 Frequency of alcohol consumption of persons aged 18 years and over
• IH454 Frequency of alcohol consumption of six units or more on one occasion of persons aged 18 years and over
• IH455 Frequency of alcohol consumption of six units or more on one occasion of persons aged 18 years and over
• IH456 Frequency of alcohol consumption of six units or more on one occasion of persons aged 18 years and over

Cannabis use - Those aged 18 years and over were asked about their personal experience of cannabis use in the past 12 months. For those aged 18 years and over, 7.7% had used cannabis in the previous 12 months, while over one in five (22.1%) of those aged 18 to 24 years of age had used cannabis in the past 12 months.

See Figure 9 Cannabis use in the past 12 months of all persons aged 18 years and over by age group, 2024 and Table 14 Cannabis use in the past 12 months of all persons aged 18 years and over by age group, 2024

• IH432 Cannabis use in the past 12 months of those aged 18 years and over
• IH433 Cannabis use in the past 12 months of those aged 18 years and over
• IH434 Cannabis use in the past 12 months of those aged 18 years and over

Smoking and vaping - When it comes to smoking and vaping, 10.2% of those aged 18 years and over smoked tobacco products daily, while 7.1% vaped daily. Those aged 45 to 54 years of age were more likely to smoke daily than any other age group at 13.3%. Vaping daily (13.6%) or occasionally (10%) was most prevalent for those aged 18 to 34 years.”

• IH449 Prevalence of smoking or vaping for adults aged 18 years and over
• IH450 Prevalence of smoking or vaping for adults aged 18 years and over
• IH451 Prevalence of smoking or vaping for adults aged 18 years and over