title: Behavioral risk factors for disease and preventive health practices among lesbians.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pa., USA. debaaron@pitt.edu
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Aaron
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Markovic
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Danielson
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Honnold
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Janosky
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Schmidt
mesh_terms: 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