Prevalence of healthy lifestyle characteristics--Michigan, 1998 and 2000.

Most persons with chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, and chronic lung disease share multiple common risk factors and lifestyle behaviors. Tobacco use, poor diet, and physical inactivity have been identified as the leading contributors to overall mortality in the United States, accounting for one third of all deaths; Michigan has a particularly high burden of chronic disease-related mortality. To characterize the prevalence of four healthy lifestyle characteristics (HLCs) (i.e., healthy weight, adequate fruit and vegetable consumption, regular leisure-time physical activity [LTPA], and not smoking) in Michigan residents, data were analyzed from Michigan's Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) for 1998 and 2000. This report summarizes the results of the analysis, which indicate that the proportion of Michigan residents who engaged in all four healthy lifestyle practices was extremely low, and that the prevalence was influenced by sex, education and self-reported health status. The comprehensive assessment of HLCs may be a useful adjunct to chronic disease surveillance.