Examining modifiable health behaviors, body weight, and use of preventive health services among caregivers and non-caregivers aged 65 years and older in Hawaii, Kansas, and Washington using 2007 BRFSS.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the associations among health behaviors, healthy body weight, and use of preventive services of adults 65 years and older using the 2007 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) as a function of caregiving status.


METHODS
Participants (N=6,138) residing in the states of Hawaii, Kansas, and Washington completed questions about caregiving. We examined if there were any associations among body weight--having a healthy weight (body mass index 18.5-24.9 kg/m2); modifiable health behaviors--not smoking, consuming < or = 1 alcoholic beverage per day, consuming at least five fruits or vegetables daily, participating in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity during the average week; and using preventive services--receiving an annual influenza immunization, and ever receiving a pneumococcal immunization.


RESULTS
The two groups did not differ significantly on the modifiable health behaviors of fruit and vegetable consumption, smoking status, or alcohol consumption, or having a healthy weight. Caregivers were significantly more likely to meet physical activity recommendations than non-caregivers (54.1%, 42.0%, respectively, p < 0.001). No significant differences were found between caregivers and non-caregivers on receiving influenza and pneumococcal immunization.


CONCLUSIONS
Older adults who are caregivers are more likely than other older adults to meet government recommendations for physical activity; however, they have similar patterns of engaging in other health behaviors, including health eating and use of preventive services.
McGuire
L
L
Division of Injury Response, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30341-3724, USA. LMcGuire@cdc.gov
Bouldin
E L
EL
Andresen
E M
EM
Anderson
L A
LA
D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D017028:Caregivers; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006254:Hawaii; D015438:Health Behavior; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007615:Kansas; D008297:Male; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011314:Preventive Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014675:Vegetables; D014861:Washington