AJM Theme Issue: Diabetes/MetabolismClinical research studyTurning Back the Clock: Adopting a Healthy Lifestyle in Middle Age
Section snippets
Study Population
The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study (ARIC) is a prospective epidemiologic study of 15,792 men and women ages 45 to 64 years at enrollment in four communities across the United States that was designed to investigate the origin and progression of various atherosclerotic diseases.12 The first set of interviews and examinations (Visit 1) in which baseline information was collected were conducted from years 1987 to 1989. The full interview and exam methodology can be found on the ARIC web
Results
Initial lifestyle status could be determined for 15,708 individuals in the study, and 1344 (8.5%) engaged in all 4 healthy lifestyle factors during Visit 1 (Table 1). Participants aged 45-54 years, men, African-American, and individuals with histories of hypertension or diabetes were significantly less likely to be leading a healthy lifestyle during Visit 1. Individuals with less than college education or family annual incomes less than $35,000 (lower socioeconomic status) also were less likely
Discussion
In this study, we found that a midlife switch to a healthy lifestyle that includes a diet of at least 5 daily fruits and vegetables, exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, and not smoking results in a substantial reduction in mortality and cardiovascular disease over the subsequent 4 years. This benefit was independent of age, race, gender, socioeconomic status, a history of hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes, or previous cardiovascular disease. The study adds 3 new features to the
Acknowledgments
The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study (ARIC) is conducted and supported by the NHLBI in collaboration with the ARIC Study Investigators. This manuscript was prepared using a limited access dataset obtained by the NHLBI and does not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of the ARIC Study or the NHLBI. The authors thank Vanessa Diaz, MD, MS; and Richelle Koopman, MD, MS, for their helpful suggestions and review of the manuscript.
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