[Distribution of habits related to health in a female Canarian population].
BACKGROUND
To compare several anthropometric variables, obesity and some life-style (tobacco, coffee and alcohol consumption and physical activity during leisure time) in women 45 years old and older.


METHODS
From the 1991 electoral roll, we obtained a population of 1221 women aged more than 45 years living in the island of Gran Canaria. A questionnaire and a physical examination including weight and height with light clothes was performed in every woman. Obesity was defined according to the Quetelet index, and weight (in kg) divided by height (in m) at square.


RESULTS
Rural women aged more than 45 years old are heavier, have a larger corporal surface, have a higher Quetelet index, smoke less and do greater activity during leisure time than urban women the same age. We found no differences either in alcohol or coffee consumption.


CONCLUSIONS
There are statistically significant differences between women that live in rural and urban habitats. Anthropometric variables (weight, corporal surface, Quetelet index) show higher values in rural women than in urban ones. On the other hand, tobacco consumption and sadentarism have a higher prevalence in the urban women compared to rural ones.
Navarro Rodríguez
M C
MC
Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Departamento de Enfermería, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
Sosa Henríquez
M
M
Saavedra Santana
P
P
Limiñana Cañal
J M
JM
Calvo Fernández
J R
JR
Betancor León
P
P
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000818:Animals; D001266:Atlantic Islands; D003069:Coffee; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010808:Physical Examination; D005082:Physical Exertion; D012424:Rural Population; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population
D003069:Coffee