title: Health behaviors of minority childhood cancer survivors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Available data have suggested that childhood cancer survivors (CCSs) are comparable to the general population with regard to many lifestyle parameters. However, to the authors' knowledge, little is known regarding minority CCSs. This cross-sectional study describes and compares the body mass index and health behaviors of African American, Hispanic, and white survivors with each other and with noncancer controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants included 452 adult CCSs (150 African American, 152 Hispanic, and 150 white individuals) recruited through 4 childhood cancer treating institutions and 375 ethnically matched noncancer controls (125 in each racial/ethnic group) recruited via targeted digit dial. All participants completed a 2-hour in-person interview.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Survivors and noncancer controls reported similar health behaviors. Within survivors, smoking and physical activity were found to be similar across racial/ethnic groups. African American and Hispanic survivors reported lower daily alcohol use compared with white individuals, but consumed unhealthy diets and were more likely to be obese.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This unique study highlights that many minority CCSs exhibit lifestyle profiles that contribute to an increased risk of chronic diseases and late effects. Recommendations for behavior changes must consider the social and cultural context in which minority survivors may live.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Health Promotion Research, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: Melinda R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Stolley
authors.forename: Lisa K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Sharp
authors.forename: Christy C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Tangney
authors.forename: Linda A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Schiffer
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Arroyo
authors.forename: Yoonsang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Richard T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.forename: Mary Lou
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Breen
authors.forename: Karen E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Kinahan
authors.forename: Kim J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Dilley
authors.forename: Tara O
authors.initials: TO
authors.lastname: Henderson
authors.forename: Allen D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Korenblit
authors.forename: Katya
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Seligman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D015444:Exercise; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior / Q000208:ethnology; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008913:Minority Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009043:Motor Activity; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000208:ethnology; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology; D012042:Registries; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D017741:Survivors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: childhood cancer; health behaviors; health disparities; minority; survivorship