Eric M Hecht1, Marnie R Layton2, Gary A Abrams3, Anna M Rabil2, David C Landy4. 1. Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida; Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida; Institute of Etiological Research, Boca Raton, Florida. Electronic address: info@etioinstitute.org. 2. Institute of Etiological Research, Boca Raton, Florida. 3. Prisma Health, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Greenville, South Carolina. 4. Hospital For Special Surgery, New York, New York.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Leading public health institutions recommend participation in several evidence-based behaviors, including exercise, a healthy diet, and maintenance of a normal BMI while simultaneously avoiding cigarette smoking and excessive alcohol consumption. The investigators attempted to evaluate the collective adherence to these recommendations and population trends in these behaviors by evaluating nationally representative surveys over a period of 12 years. METHODS: In 2019, the data from 26,194 National Health and Examination Survey participants who provided answers to survey questions regarding diet, physical activity, and usage of cigarettes and alcohol were analyzed. BMI was obtained from the examination data. Adherence to each behavior and the constellation of all 5 behaviors was assessed and tracked over a 12-year timeframe. RESULTS: The smoking rates (p=0.01) and adherence to a healthy BMI declined over time (p=0.03). The total percentage of subjects who participated in all 5 behaviors ranged from 4.4% to 6.3%, whereas subjects who performed 2 or fewer behaviors ranged from 45.4% to 48.3%. Greater education (p<0.0001), higher SES (p<0.0001), and being a female participant (p<0.0001) predicted higher behavior scores. CONCLUSIONS: Only 1 in 5 Americans engage in 4 or more healthy behaviors, whereas almost half of them participate in fewer than 3 healthy behaviors. Increased participation in numerous healthy behaviors can decrease premature mortality, decrease the burden of chronic diseases, improve life quality, and provide substantial economic benefits. A public health practice of targeting a constellation of behaviors as opposed to individual behaviors is needed.
INTRODUCTION: Leading public health institutions recommend participation in several evidence-based behaviors, including exercise, a healthy diet, and maintenance of a normal BMI while simultaneously avoiding cigarette smoking and excessive alcohol consumption. The investigators attempted to evaluate the collective adherence to these recommendations and population trends in these behaviors by evaluating nationally representative surveys over a period of 12 years. METHODS: In 2019, the data from 26,194 National Health and Examination Survey participants who provided answers to survey questions regarding diet, physical activity, and usage of cigarettes and alcohol were analyzed. BMI was obtained from the examination data. Adherence to each behavior and the constellation of all 5 behaviors was assessed and tracked over a 12-year timeframe. RESULTS: The smoking rates (p=0.01) and adherence to a healthy BMI declined over time (p=0.03). The total percentage of subjects who participated in all 5 behaviors ranged from 4.4% to 6.3%, whereas subjects who performed 2 or fewer behaviors ranged from 45.4% to 48.3%. Greater education (p<0.0001), higher SES (p<0.0001), and being a female participant (p<0.0001) predicted higher behavior scores. CONCLUSIONS: Only 1 in 5 Americans engage in 4 or more healthy behaviors, whereas almost half of them participate in fewer than 3 healthy behaviors. Increased participation in numerous healthy behaviors can decrease premature mortality, decrease the burden of chronic diseases, improve life quality, and provide substantial economic benefits. A public health practice of targeting a constellation of behaviors as opposed to individual behaviors is needed.
Authors: Glen E Duncan; Ally R Avery; Siny Tsang; Nathaniel F Watson; Bethany D Williams; Eric Turkheimer Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2022-08-05 Impact factor: 4.135