*2.5. Stage 5*

To reflect the division of regressors into three dimensions and make cross-country comparisons possible, the diversity of effects on public health was addressed by categorizing the territories based on the respective parameters:


It was supposed that, in different types of territories, the incidence rates of *Yn* diseases and related health problems were affected by different *Xn* variables, particularly:

**Hypothesis 1 (H1):** *In Type 1 territories, the strongest influence over Yn is exerted by environmental variables X1–6.*

**Hypothesis 2 (H2):** *In Type 2 territories, the strongest influence over Yn is exerted by nutritional variables X7–12.*

**Hypothesis 3 (H3):** *In Type 3 and Type 4 territories, the strongest influence over Yn is exerted by economic variables X13–16 and traditional food proportion in a diet X12.*
