Behavioral risk factors for disease and preventive health practices among lesbians.
OBJECTIVE
This study compared the prevalence of health behaviors among lesbians and in the general population of women.


METHODS
We used a cross-sectional community-based survey of 1010 self-identified lesbians 18 years or older.


RESULTS
Compared with the general population of women, lesbians were more likely to report cigarette use, alcohol use, and heavy alcohol use. A higher percentage of lesbians were categorized as overweight, and lesbians were more likely to participate in vigorous physical activity. They were less likely to report having had a Papanicolaou test within the past 2 years but more likely to report ever having had a mammogram.


CONCLUSIONS
While there may be differences in health behaviors between lesbians and the general population of women, how these differences influence the risk of subsequent disease is unknown.
Aaron
D J
DJ
University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pa., USA. debaaron@pitt.edu
Markovic
N
N
Danielson
M E
ME
Honnold
J A
JA
Janosky
J E
JE
Schmidt
N J
NJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D018452:Homosexuality, Female / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010414:Pennsylvania / Q000453:epidemiology; D011314:Preventive Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D016387:Women's Health