Clinical research studyAdherence to Healthy Lifestyle Habits in US Adults, 1988-2006
Section snippets
Methods
The study was a comparative analysis of middle-aged adults aged 40-74 years participating in the NHANES III 1988-1994 and 2001-2006, national data sets that are available for public use. The study was reviewed by the Institutional Review Board of the Medical University of South Carolina and was exempt. The study populations and study variables were matched to be as identical as possible in the 2 data sets. Below is a description of the population and study variables from each of the surveys.
Results
Over the last 16 years, the percent of adults aged 40-74 years with a BMI ≥30 has increased from 28% to 36% (P <.05); physical activity 12 times a month or more has decreased from 53% to 43% (P <.05); smoking rates have not changed (26.9% to 26.1%); eating 5 or more fruits and vegetables a day has decreased from 42% to 26% (P <.05); and moderate alcohol use has increased from 40% to 52% (P <.05). Adherence to all 5 healthy habits as a group has gone from 15% to 8% (P <.05).
Comparing men and
Discussion
Generally, adherence to a healthy lifestyle pattern has decreased during the last 18 years; adherence to all 5 healthy habits as a group has gone from 15% to 8% (P <.05). Men overall and non-Hispanic whites (both men and women) have a pattern of declining adherence to a healthy lifestyle that exceeds their respective comparison groups. Of equal or greater concern is the finding that individuals with cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, or hyperlipidemia do not adhere to a healthy
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Funding: This study was supported in part by grant 5 D55HP05150 from the Health Resources and Services Administration. Preliminary findings were presented at the North American Primary Care Research Group meeting in Puerto Rico, November 18, 2008.
Conflict of Interest: The authors of this study have no conflicts of interest to disclose.
Authorship: All authors had full access to all of the data in the study and had a role in writing the manuscript.