Health behaviour is directly affected by a person’s attitudes, beliefs, values, awareness, skills and motivation. The living environment that surrounds a person with its environmental, socioeconomic and psychosocial influences largely determines the kind of health decisions made by the person and the manner in which the person conduct themselves with regard to their own health and the health of others.

The main behavioural health factors are lack of physical exercise, unbalanced diet and risk behaviour, such as excessive consumption of alcohol, tobacco and illegal drugs, gambling, risky sexual behaviour and unsafe behaviour in traffic (speeding, failure to use seatbelts and reflectors etc.).

The mortality rate of young people has constantly decreased in Estonia and the spread of chronic diseases has so far been small. However, the health behaviour choices we make in our youth considerably affect our health in later life. We must admit that the health behaviour of young people has deteriorated considerably since the mid 1990s. The number of young people who smoke, drink and use drugs has increased constantly and the level of injuries among young people remains high: 92 children and young people up to 19 years of age died as a result of accidents, poisoning and traumas in 2006. Also, young people have become physically less active and their weight has increased, which alongside the health behaviour described above is likely to lead to the appearance of several health problems in their adulthood.

The changes in the health behaviour of adults have been similar to those occurring among young people, and the number of people who smoke, drink too much alcohol and are overweight is increasing.

However, there are also signs of a decrease in the kind of behaviour that poses a threat to health – for example, the number of deaths caused by accidents and suicides has gone down. The number of people killed in traffic accidents is an exception here, as the decrease in this indicator has stalled in recent years.

The risk factors of diseases and injuries are often connected to each other, which is why it is important to look at their prevention in a comprehensive manner. Measures that help create an environment which supports health and health awareness must be taken in cooperation with the representatives of different walks of life in order to promote a health lifestyle. It is necessary to improve the availability of healthy food and the opportunities that promote physical exercise, to reduce the availability of and demand for substances that cause physical and mental addiction, and to promote safe behaviour in traffic, everyday life and leisure.

The main target group in the promotion of healthy choices and a healthy lifestyle are children and young people, as investing in the health of children and young people is one of the most successful methods of guaranteeing the good health of future adults.

Promotion of healthy ways of living would probably help to considerably improve the state of health of the Estonian population. The role of an individual in health behaviour is more important than in any other area of health, and every citizen has the opportunity to help improve the health of the population.