Changing patterns in health behaviors and risk factors related to chronic diseases, 1990-2000.
OBJECTIVE
Assess changes in chronic disease-related health behaviors and risk factors from 1990 to 2000, by race/ethnicity, age, and gender.


METHODS
Stratified cross-sectional design.


METHODS
United States.


METHODS
16,948 black, 11,956 Hispanic, and 158,707 white women and men, ages 18 to 74.


METHODS
Cigarette smoking, obesity, sedentary behavior, low vegetable or fruit intake. From the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.


RESULTS
Young women and men, ages 18 to 24, had poor health profiles and experienced adverse changes from 1990 to 2000. After the variables were adjusted for education and income, these young people had the highest prevalence of smoking (34%-36% current smokers among white women and men), the largest increases in smoking (10%-12% increase among white women and men; 9% increase among Hispanic women), and large increases in obesity (4%-9% increase, all gender and racial/ethnic groups). Young women and men from each racial/ethnic group also had high levels of sedentary behavior (approximately 20%-30%) and low vegetable or fruit intake (approximately 35%-50%). In contrast, older Hispanic women and men and older black men, ages 65 to 74, showed some of the most positive changes. They had the largest decreases in smoking (Hispanic women), largest decreases in sedentary behavior (Hispanic women and black men), and largest increases in vegetable or fruit intake (Hispanic women and men, and black men).


CONCLUSIONS
The poor and worsening health profile of young women and men is a particular concern, as they will soon enter the ages of high chronic disease burden.
Stanford Prevention Research Center, Stanford University School of Medicine, 211 Quarry Road, Room N229, Stanford, CA 94305-5705, USA. winkleby@stanford.edu
Marilyn A
MA
Winkleby
Catherine
C
Cubbin
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology