Health behavior changes in the United States, the United Kingdom, and France.
OBJECTIVE
To determine changes in health behaviors in the United States, the United Kingdom, and France over the previous two years.


METHODS
Cross-sectional survey of nationally representative samples.


METHODS
Surveys conducted between June and November 1988 on persons aged 16 to 50 years in the United States (n = 1,940), the United Kingdom (n = 1,833), and France (n = 2,294) regarding health behaviors, attitudes toward health, and changes in health practices during the previous two years.


RESULTS
Using Bonferroni's adjustment for multiple comparisons, residents of the United States had significantly (p < 0.05) higher Quetelet indices and reported higher egg and red meat consumption, but had lower alcohol consumption, than did residents of either the United Kingdom or France. Americans were also significantly more likely to report attitudes accepting personal responsibility for their health and much more often endorsed the role of health behaviors (e.g., exercise) for decreasing the risk of cardiovascular disease. Changes in health behavior over two years were consistently more likely in the United States for weight loss, decreased alcohol consumption, decreased red meat and egg consumption, and increased exercise. Americans were also much more likely to have changed at least three health behaviors in the previous two years (United States 41.5%, United Kingdom 25.5%, France 13.8%, p < 0.002). A multivariate linear model confirmed the high likelihood of health behavior changes in the United States compared with the United Kingdom or France.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings confirm that changes in health behaviors are continuing to occur in the United States, but remain comparatively modest in the United Kingdom and France. These international variations in health behaviors parallel differential declines in mortality rates in ischemic heart disease.
Retchin
S M
SM
Project HOPE Center for Health Affairs, Chevy Chase, MD.
Wells
J A
JA
Valleron
A J
AJ
Albrecht
G L
GL
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000517:prevention & control; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D006113:United Kingdom; D014481:United States