Awareness of lifestyle risk factors for cancer and heart disease among adults in the UK.
OBJECTIVE
To examine and compare awareness of lifestyle risk factors for cancer and heart disease in a single UK representative sample.


METHODS
Two open-ended questions about cancer and heart disease risk factors were included in a population-based survey of 1747 adults. Responses were coded for four lifestyles with established links to both diseases: smoking, eating an unhealthy diet, drinking excessive alcohol and physical inactivity.


RESULTS
Awareness of lifestyle risk factors was low for both diseases, although higher for heart disease than cancer. The average number identified by respondents was 2.1 (heart disease) and 1.4 (cancer). The strongest predictor was education (both p<0.001). Awareness that physical inactivity is a cancer risk factor was particularly low at 7%.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that public awareness of the impact of lifestyle on commonly feared diseases, especially cancer, is low.


CONCLUSIONS
Unhealthy lifestyles make a significant contribution to ill health and mortality. Increased public awareness of the links between lifestyles and commonly feared diseases might help people understand the potential health consequences of their actions and encourage them to make much-needed lifestyle changes. Efforts are needed to improve public health messages about how lifestyle risk factors impact on the chances of developing these important diseases.
Sanderson
Saskia C
SC
Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY 10029, United States. saskia.sanderson@mssm.edu
Waller
Jo
J
Jarvis
Martin J
MJ
Humphries
Steve E
SE
Wardle
Jane
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001364:Awareness; D015444:Exercise; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D006266:Health Education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D015980:Public Health Practice; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom; D055815:Young Adult