![]()
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
![]()
New Report Examines Americans' Health Behaviors For Immediate Release: February 25, 2004 Contact: NCHS/CDC Public
Affairs
Heath Behaviors of Adults: United States, 1999-2001.
Series Report 10, Number 219. 89 pp. (PHS)
2004-1547 A new analysis of health habits of U.S. adults provides a higher than usual level of detail on four important health-related behaviors – alcohol use, smoking, leisure-time physical activity, and body weight The report – released today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Center for Health Statistics – combines data from three years of the ongoing National Health Interview Survey to examine the health behaviors by age, gender, race and Hispanic ethnicity, education, income level, marital status, geographic region and place of residence. Highlights of the report include:
The survey uses several measures to monitor each of the health-related behaviors. In addition to analyzing differences in these behaviors by many population characteristics, the report compares various population subgroups in terms of healthy and unhealthy behaviors. In analyzing patterns of health behaviors, the study showed that rates of obesity were about the same for men and women, men were slightly more likely than women to be smokers, and men were more likely than women to be physically active in their leisure time. Younger adults were more likely to be physically active than middle-aged adults and older adults were less likely to be obese than middle-aged adults. The report noted significant differences by race and Hispanic ethnicity. Asian adults in general were less likely to have unhealthy behaviors in terms of alcohol use, smoking and body weight than other race groups studied. Rates of leisure-time physical inactivity and obesity were higher among black adults than white adults. Black men were more likely than white men to be smokers, but among women the reverse was true. The differences between Hispanic and non-Hispanic adults were particularly noteworthy for women. Hispanic women have low rates of smoking compared to non-Hispanic white women but higher rates of obesity. Adults with higher levels of education and income generally have more favorable health behaviors in terms of cigarette smoking, leisure-time physical activity and body weight status. Health behaviors are self-reported by respondents in this large-scale nationwide household interview survey, and therefore some unhealthy behaviors may be underestimates. For more information about the National Health Interview Survey or to view a copy of Health Behaviors of Adults: United States, 1999-2001, visit the CDC/NCHS Web site. ### CDC
protects people’s health and safety by preventing and controlling diseases
and injuries; enhances health decisions by providing credible information
on critical health issues; and promotes healthy living through strong
partnerships with local, national, and international organizations.
This page last reviewed
October 06, 2006
|