Health risk behaviours, obesity, and gambling severity: a Finnish nationwide population study

Abstract Prior research on the relationship between health risk behaviour (HRB), obesity, and gambling has primarily focused on problem gambling, while studies focusing on lower severity levels are scarce. Moreover, this relationship has rarely been analysed separately for women and men. This study investigated the association between HRBs, obesity, and the full spectrum of gambling risk severity in both women and men. The data were drawn from the population-based Healthy Finland survey collected between 2022 and 2023, including adults aged 20 or older (n = 28,154, response rate 46%, mean age 52 years). The Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI) was used as dependent variable both as a continuous measure and as a categorical variable. HRBs (daily smoking, excessive drinking, low fruits and vegetables consumption, low physical activity, and insufficient sleep) and obesity were used as independent variables. Daily smoking, excessive drinking, low fruit & vegetables consumption, and insufficient sleep were less prevalent among individuals with non-problem gambling compared to those with varying degrees of gambling problems. Notably, these HRBs were present not only among individuals with problem gambling but also among those with low-risk and moderate-risk gambling. After adjusting for potential confounding variables, all unhealthy behaviours and obesity, except for physical inactivity, were significantly associated with higher PGSI scores. These findings highlight the need for public health strategies that address gambling across the entire risk spectrum, rather than focusing only on severe gambling problems. Key messages • Several HRBs were more prevalent not only among individuals with problem gambling, but also among those with low- and moderate-risk gambling. • These findings highlight the need for public health strategies that address gambling across the entire risk spectrum, rather than focusing only on severe gambling problems.