d="p0010">It is well known that analysing, interpreting, and using data about lifestyle is one of the cornerstone of the public health.
dd><dt class="label">•dt><dd>d="p0015">We analysed the level of use of lifestyle surveillance systems in Italy identifying also possible predictors of their use by the different Italian Regions for planning and evaluation purposes.
dd><dt class="label">•dt><dd>d="p0020">Our analysis of the 19 Regional Prevention Plans (RPPs) developed by the Italian Regions within the National Prevention Plan 2010–2012 showed that the level of use of standardized data of lifestyle factors is unacceptably low in Italy and is strongly associated with the Regional Health Care Expenditure, highlighting a pressing need for full implementation of surveillance systems to allow better definition of the priorities and objectives of public health interventions.
dd><dt class="label">•dt><dd>d="p0025">Even if the analysis was carried out on the Italian context, we believe that the topic of the use of standardized data from behavioural surveillance systems is of interest for an international audience.
dd>dl>