title: Health professionals' advice to Iowa adults with hypertension using the 2002 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We investigated the prevalence of hypertension-lowering lifestyle-modification advice given to adults living in Iowa. We sought to determine if persons with high blood pressure and those who are overweight receive more advice than do persons with normal blood pressure and a desirable body weight.
  
  
  METHODS
  By using the 2002 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, we asked Iowa adults with (N=1050) and without (N=2514) high blood pressure five questions relating to the most recent Joint National Committee guidelines on lowering blood pressure. Respondents with high blood pressure were placed into normal weight and overweight categories. Chi-square analysis revealed group differences in amount of advice received. To reflect the true Iowa population, data were weighted by SPSS software.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with persons without high blood pressure, those with high blood pressure received more lifestyle-modification advice (p < .001) for eating less high-fat or high-cholesterol foods (28.3% vs. 12.5%), eating more fruits and vegetables (35.7% vs. 20.0%), exercising more (37.6% vs. 20.8%), losing weight (19.3% vs. 9.3%), and quitting smoking (80.5% vs. 64.6%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although persons with multiple chronic-disease risk factors are given more advice, the prevalence of advice given to individuals when lifestyle changes may reduce risk factors is still very low. Methods of translating research on lifestyle modifications into practice are discussed.
authors.affiliation: UI Wellness-Human Resources, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA. megan-moeller@uiowa.edu
authors.forename: Megan A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Moeller
authors.forename: Anastasia M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Snelling
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D040343:Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy*; D007484:Iowa; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D012907:Smoking; D015431:Weight Loss