Risk factors and life style: A statewide health-interview survey

Four health-related life-style habits (exercise, smoking, weight, alcohol use) of 1091 Massachusetts residents are profiled from data obtained in a 1980 health-interview survey. The demographic distributions within the study sample closely approximated distributions for sex, age-range, and marital status obtained in the 1980 census. Definitive data for each of the 4 habits are discussed separately. The survey found that these habits ranked in the following order of incidence: overweight (43.3%), smoking (33.0%), no exercise (28.3%), and robust alcohol use (11.7%). Women reported more high-risk behavior than men in all areas except alcohol consumption. Older individuals reported less smoking and alcohol use than younger people. However, older people reported markedly less exercise and had a higher prevalence of overweight, 2 factors which are clearly related. Persons having higher education and (to a lesser extent) higher incomes reported lower risk scores on all 4 habits, suggesting that social advantages may include behavior patterns that enrich physical well-being. Because social advantages are not prerequisites to good health, it is suggested that preventive medicine and health education might produce a profound, positive health impact on less advantaged populations. (wz)