Prevalence of lifestyle risk factors in a family practice.

The prevalence of eight adverse lifestyle risk factors which are linked to increased morbidity and mortality was determined. Smoking, excess alcohol use, obesity, lack of exercise, lack of seatbelt use, use of hazardous transportation vehicles, and inadequate rest were studied. A random sample of 147 patients from a private family practice were selected in a cross-sectional survey. Data were collected by mailed questionnaire. The most prevalent adverse habits were lack of seatbelt use (71%) and sedentary lifestyle (44%). Patients with multiple adverse health habits had poorer self-reported physical as well as emotional well-being. Using a factor analysis of the correlations among eight habits, no significant clustering of habits emerged as indicators of high risk. Thus, no abbreviated list of adverse lifestyle risk factors for clinical use was found that could replace a complete review of risk factors.