title: Family history of chronic disease and meeting public health guidelines for physical activity: the cooper center longitudinal study.
abstract: We aimed to assess whether a family history of coronary heart disease, diabetes, or cancer is linked to meeting public health guidelines for health-promoting physical activity. To achieve this objective, we analyzed data on 29,513 adults who came to the Cooper Clinic (Dallas, Texas) between January 1, 1990, and December 31, 2010, for a preventive medicine visit. Patients completed a comprehensive medical survey including information on family medical history, physical activity, and other lifestyle behaviors. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression were used to examine the relationship between having a family history of chronic disease and meeting physical activity guidelines. The results indicated that individuals with a family history of disease had reduced odds for meeting or exceeding physical activity guidelines. For example, participants with a family history of 3 diseases were 36% less likely to meet or exceed physical activity guidelines than their counterparts without a family history of disease (odds ratio, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.58-0.72), while controlling for covariates. Among this large sample of adults, those with a family history of chronic disease were less inclined to regularly engage in physical activity. Thus, targeted programs encouraging adoption and maintenance of health-promoting physical activity might be warranted, specifically targeting individuals with familial history of disease.
authors.affiliation: University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, School of Public Health, Dallas, TX 75390, USA. kerem.shuval@UTSouthwestern.edu
authors.forename: Kerem
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shuval
authors.forename: Chung-Yi
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Chiu
authors.forename: Carolyn E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Barlow
authors.forename: Kelley Pettee
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Gabriel
authors.forename: Darla E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Kendzor
authors.forename: Michael S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Businelle
authors.forename: Celette Sugg
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Skinner
authors.forename: Bijal A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Balasubramanian
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D015438:Health Behavior; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D016015:Logistic Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D011634:Public Health; D013781:Texas