Clustering of lifestyle behaviors: the relationship between cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, and dietary intake.
OBJECTIVE
To examine relationships between cigarette smoking, alcohol use, and dietary intake.


METHODS
Respondents to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals, a nationwide probability sample conducted from January 1994 through January 1997 (n = 23,602; response rate = 80%), were selected. Adults ages 19 years and older were grouped according to their smoking and drinking habits. Selected demographic variables, food group servings, food energy, and densities of selected nutrients were compared.


METHODS
In-home interviews were conducted in the 50 states and the District of Columbia.


METHODS
The selected sample (n = 6745) included 3229 nonsmokers, 1701 former smokers, and 1808 current smokers, and 2284 abstainers, 2713 occasional drinkers, 1000 moderate drinkers, and 748 liberal drinkers.


METHODS
Responses to standard questionnaires were examined by Student's t-test, chi 2, one-way analysis of variance, and univariate and multivariate analyses of covariance.


RESULTS
Men were more likely than women to be current smokers and liberal drinkers (64% vs. 40% and 62% vs. 38%). For both, the use of cigarettes and alcohol was closely related. An additive relationship was observed between smoking/drinking classification and lower food group servings and nutrient intakes. Although cigarette and alcohol use may have been underreported, these findings support previous ones showing poor food choices along with lower nutrient intakes as smoking and drinking increase.


CONCLUSIONS
Smoking and drinking habits may alter individuals' food selections and nutrient intakes. Future interventions for health promotion may achieve greater success by targeting multiple risk factors simultaneously or sequentially.
Ma
J
J
Department of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68583-0806.
Betts
N M
NM
Hampl
J S
JS
D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States