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PubMed2003

Socio-economic Predictors of Life Style. A pilot study.

In epidemiological studies there exists the evidence of relationship between socio-economic status (SES) and health. The suspicious cause of these differences is life-style. The aim of the presented study was to identify the relationship between SES, demographic characteristics and the life-style in an industrial region. A structured questionnaire was distributed to a random sample of some 3,000 aged 25-70 and collected by postal delivery. The SES and demographic factors being analysed were sex, age, education, marital status and economic situation of the family in the relationship with a wide range of information on life style. The data was analysed using the chi-square test and logistic regression. The total number of analysed questionnaires was 634. The lowest response-rate was in the group with the basic education. Significant differences were found by sex in education (less women with university degree) and household income (more women in the lowest income category, men in the highest one). A detail analysis of the aggregated variables (adjusted for all SES variables) found: passivity and contentment were in adverse correlation with the level of education and economic situation; psychical well-being was correlated with family status and economic situation, risk behaviour was correlated with all SES factors except sex and education. Among the analysed factors economical situation of respondents, family and education were the most significant determinants of the differences in life-style.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Life-style habits and homocysteine levels in an elderly population.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Increased plasma total homocysteine (Hcy) is a known cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factor, related to several components of the established CVD risk profile. Observational studies support the role of modifying life-style related risk factors such as diet, physical activity and alcohol consumption in CVD prevention. Regular physical activity protects against coronary artery disease, possibly through its role in controlling risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus and obesity, but also independently. The aim of our study was to test the hypothesis that there is an association between physical activity, life-style habits and plasma Hcy levels in an elderly population. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 423 males and females aged 69.0 +/- 6.7 years completed an interview and laboratory examinations. Our main outcome measure was plasma levels of Hcy. RESULTS: Mean Hcy values were 10.5 +/- 5.5 micromol/L (11.4 +/- 6.1 for males and 9.3 +/- 4.5 for females; p < 0.001). Smoking and BMI were not found to be associated with Hcy levels. Physically active subjects, as well as B vitamin supplement users, had significantly lower Hcy levels (p = 0.002 and p = 0.004, respectively). In a multiple linear regression model, the Hcy level was 10% higher amongst participants with a sedentary life-style, 17% higher amongst males, 1% higher for each one-year increment in age, and 10% higher amongst participants who used no B vitamin supplements. CONCLUSIONS: Any level of physical activity was found to be an independent life-style habit associated with a lower Hcy level in an elderly population. This study supports existing recommendations for elderly persons to maintain a physically active life-style.

Aged↗
PubMed1991

[Correlations among body weight, life style and health status in Korean adults].

Correlations among body weight and sociodemographic factors, including life-style were tested as social determinants of health in a sample of 5,201 adults in Korea. The aim of this study was to determine the extent to which sociodemographic variables and life-style associated health behaviors explain body weight distribution. A second aim was to explain the relation of body weight and health status to stress the importance of body weight as an early risk indicator of health status. The canonical correlation between the weight distribution (underweight and overweight) and the independent variables was 0.29, 17% of the total variance was explained. Perceived health level represented the highest contribution (canonical coefficient 0.82) to body weight. Sociodemographic factors such as sex, economic status, and life-style factors such as smoking, exercise, regular meals and sleep showed comparatively high contributions to body weight. The relevance of body weight for health status including the rate of chronic disease and the rate of medical utilization was significant. Especially, underweight was clarified as being more important than overweight to morbidity level and medical utilization. These findings suggest that perceived body weight is an important indicator of health status and is thus a valuable variable to be considered for nursing intervention and health education related to the promotion of health.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Attitude of students to health and healthy life-style].

Results of sociological survey of attitude of academic first-year students to health and healthy life-style are presented. Concurrence of respondents' opinions with used in scientific literature notions "health and healthy life-style" is established. Respondents emphasized significance of dependence of health from such most vital medical social factors as bad habits, nutrition characteristics and passing leisure. Respondents expressed their opinions about means of health promotion, need of preventive check-ups, importance of being informed on issues of health maintenance. Need to include courses on healthy life-style into academic curriculum is emphasized.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Review of cancer among 4 religious sects: evidence that life-styles are distinctive sets of risk factors.

The occurrence of various types of cancer have been reviewed and evaluated in 4 religious groups. These patterns have been critically assessed in light of the distinctive life-style features of these groups. All 4 religious groups considered in this paper have reduced overall rates of cancer, suggesting that the life-styles of all 4 groups have merit in terms of reducing the overall risk of cancer. The rate of smoking among these groups is nearly nil, and the lung cancer rate in all 4 of these religious groups is strikingly low. Cancer of the oral structures, pharynx, larynx, and esophagus is also generally quite low. Amish and Hutterites have unusually high rates of breast cancer and juvenile leukemia. Reproductive factors frequently mentioned as risk factors for breast cancer cannot explain the excess breast cancer in the Amish and Hutterite women because they should have had the effect of reducing the rate. None of the numerous risk factors, normally suggested for leukemia, are consistent with this observation. The observations on ovarian cancer tend to confirm low parity and late age at first birth as risk factors, although the evidence is not entirely consistent. Also, contrary to common observations, the pattern of ovarian cancer contrasts greatly with the breast cancer pattern, suggesting dissimilar risk factors. Their low rate of cervical cancer is consistent with promiscuity being a strong risk factor, but other frequently suggested risk factors were generally inconsistent with the observations. Cancers of the stomach, colon, rectum, urinary bladder and prostate, in these 4 religious groups, are not readily explained by the risk factors commonly implicated in cancer of these sites. The patterns of a few types of cancers were consistent with the prevailing opinions of risk factors, but some cancers were poorly explained and, in some cases, the cancer patterns contradicted commonly held opinions concerning risk factors. Religions that provide strong directives for the personal lives of adherents result in distinctive life-style, reflecting multiple disease related factors (risk factors and protective factors). Disease related factors are related to each other in simple or more complex ways (e.g. additive, multiplicative or even more complex). Therefore, when dealing with distinctive life-styles, it may be unwarranted to attempt to isolate individual risk factors.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Association of life style with high risk of hyperimmunity and of immunosuppression mediated by IgE.

To test the hypothesis that the increase in allergic prevalence is related not only to environmental allergens, but also to comprehensive life style, we administered to 733 workers at a hard metal plant a questionnaire that included 17 physical and mental health practices. We have shown that eight practices are associated with increases or decreases of total and specific IgE levels, serving to keep them within the normal range (5-400 IU/ml), after controlling for age, sex, and environmental factors. Further confirmation of the definite effect of life style on allergic reactions comes from higher heritability among younger pairs of identical twins of total IgE levels and allergic disorders than among older pairs of identical twins. A marked synergism was found among Undesirable life-style factors as bipolar high-risk factors for the development of allergic diseases or immunosuppression characterized by low natural killer (NK) cell activity through which soluble low-affinity IgE receptor is kept low. An effort to practice Desirable life styles, therefore, may be of benefit in reducing the risk of immunoallergic disorders.

Female↗
PubMed1992

Computer assessment of life-style in a gastroenterology clinic.

To examine the potential benefit of a computer-assisted interview about life-style in gastroenterology practice, 34 consecutive patients attending a gastroenterology clinic were questioned by a computer using software designed to obtain a comprehensive history of alcohol, caffeine, cigarette, and illicit drug use, together with an assessment of exercise, sexual activity, and nutrition. Comparisons of the information obtained by the computer with clinical records revealed that physicians documented only 3% of the patients as problem drinkers, 3% as caffeine abusers, and 17% as smokers, whereas the computer identified 10% of the patients as problem drinkers, 27% as caffeine abusers, and 43% as smokers. These findings imply that patients may be more apt to tell more about adverse life-style to the computer than to a physician during clinical interview. In a sample patient population from a gastroenterology clinic, a microcomputer provides an acceptable, efficient, and potentially cost-effective way to assess life-style.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Social class and self-rated health: can the gradient be explained by differences in life style or work environment?

The purpose of the present paper is to describe differences in work environment and life style factors between social classes in Denmark and to investigate to what extent these factors can explain social class differences with regard to changes in self-rated health (SRH) over a 5 year period. We used data from a prospective study of a random sample of 5001 Danish employees, 18-59 years of age, interviewed at baseline in 1990 and again in 1995. At baseline we found higher prevalence in the lower classes of repetitive work, low skill discretion, low influence at work, high job insecurity, and ergonomic, physical, chemical, and climatic exposures. High psychological demands and conflicts at work were more prevalent in the higher classes. With regard to life style factors, we found more obese people and more smokers among the lower classes. The proportion with poor SRH increased with decreasing social class at baseline. The follow-up analyses showed a clear association between social class and worsening of SRH: The lower the social class, the higher the proportion with deterioration of SRH. There was no social gradient with regard to improved SRH over time. Approximately two thirds of the social gradient with regard to worsening of SRH could be explained by the work environment and life style factors. The largest contribution came from the work environment factors.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Impact of life style on the nutritional status of medical students at Ain Shams University.

This cross sectional study was carried out to assess the nutritional status of medical students and to determine its relation to their life style. The study involved 317 students at, Am Shams University. Anthropometric measurements such as weight, height, mid-arm circumference, triceps skin fold thickness and body mass index were measured. The students completed a self-administered questionnaire including data about some life style factors and food-frequency consumption. The study revealed that 41.3% of the students were of normal weight while 9.5% of the sample were underweight, 36.9% were overweight and 12.5% were obese. The mean mid upper arm circumference (MUAC) and mid arm muscle circumference (MAMC) of males was significant higher than that of females, while the mean triceps skin fold (TSF) of females was significant higher than that of males. The food frequency questionnaire analysis showed that most of students consume all food groups items faire. There was no statistical significant difference between the body mass index (BMI) of students and different types of food consumption. About two thirds of the students used to practice exercise, 26.9% of the students practiced exercise for less than 2 hours per week, while 33.9% of them for more than 2 hours. There was no statistical significant difference between the BMI of students and different types of exercise. However, there was significant higher percentage of males play sports and practice running (44.7% and 19.4% respectively) compared to (11.7% and 8.1%) of females. Sixty four percent of the students usually have regular meals. About 87.2% of obese compared to 64.9% of normal weight students eat snacks between meals, the difference was statistically significant. Obese individuals eat more during watching television and during feeling of stress compared to non-obese and the difference was statistically significant. The duration of practicing exercise, sports and playing computer was significantly higher in males than females. However, the duration of watching television was significantly higher in females than males. Logistic regression analysis results showed that family history of obesity and some life style factors as duration of computer use, eating more during stress time and snacking between meals were important risk factors for obesity. We concluded that about half of medical students were overweight and obese. The most important life style factors responsible for obesity were longer time spent using computer, eating more during time of stress and snacking between meals. Also, genetic factors played an important role in development of obesity. It is recommended to develop nutritional education and physical activities programs to face the problem of increasing the rate of overweight and obesity among university students.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

[Gender and relation of life-style to morale in older people living in regional cities].

The purpose of this study was to examine the morale of older people living in 7 cities (and towns), using the PGC morale scale, from the relationship between morale score and life-style. Data were collected from 1,269 people aged 60 or more in the community (619 males and 650 females) in cities (and towns). A questionnaire included the PGC morale scale and 14 life-style factors. There was no remarkable gender difference in the morale score. The relationship between morale and life-style were different in both sexes and higher in males. Female morale when living with a husband is generally high. It is important for females to have a husband. In the relationship between economics and morale, economic satisfaction was considered to be more important than the level of income. Eating regularly, participating as a volunteer and having a best friend are related to morale, but factors of job, smoking, drinking and sports enforcement-frequency are not. It is considered that there is no significant gender difference, but the relationship between morale and life-style in older people living in cities (towns) are different in both sexes.

Aged↗
PubMed1982

Physician life-style management: a selective for first-year medical students.

A two-week selective is offered to medical students at the end of their first medical school year on physician life-style management. The primary objective of the selective is to enhance the quality of physician life-planning and to prevent physician disability. The course focuses on various aspects of physicians' life-styles, including practice management, health maintenance, marriage and the family, and physician disability and exposes students to actual physician practices and nonprofessional aspects of physician life-styles, for example, home life, hobbies, and civic involvement. The selective received high ratings from the students participating in the course and is believed to be helpful in the socialization of medical students into satisfying physician life roles.

Curriculum↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Changes in life style and drug therapy for treatment of hypertension in France between 2002 and 2004].

OBJECTIVES: To estimate changes in life style and drug therapy for treatment of hypertension in France between 2002 and 2004. METHODS: The French League Against Hypertension Survey 2004 (FLAHS-2004) was performed cross-sectionally on 3 707 subjects, part of a sample of 5476 subjects selected as being representative of the French metropolitan population for age (35 years and above), gender, socioeconomic status, and place of living. Subjects who declare to take an antihypertensive medication were classified as treated hypertensive patients. A questionnaire evaluating changes in life style during the last year (physical activities, quality of food consumption, smoking, and alcohol habits) was auto-administered. RESULTS: In 2004, 24% of the French population above the age of 35 years was treated for hypertension, corresponding to an estimate of 7.5 million of subjects. The two most frequent prescribed drugs are: fixed-dose combination drugs and beta-blockers in patients aged less than 75 years, and calcium antagonist and fixed-dose combination drugs in patients aged more than 75 years. Hypertensive subjects experienced: a weight loss of more than 3 kg in 11% vs 9%* in the general population, an increased in fruits and vegetables consumption in 41% vs 34%*, a decreased in cheese (21 vs 17%*), pork-butchery (46 vs 34%*) and alcohol consumption (23 vs 18%*) [*p < 0.01]. On the other hand, the percentage of subjects who increased their physical activities was low and not different in the two groups (7 vs 9%). CONCLUSION: Changes in life style were more often applied by the subjects treated for hypertension that by the general population. The dominating place that occupies today fixed-dose combination drugs indicates a change of the therapeutic practices.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Life-style, environmental and medical factors influencing peak bone mass in women.

The aim of this study was to assess which life-style factors were associated with peak bone mass. One-thousand-two-hundred-and-twenty-seven pre-menopausal women aged between 45 and 49 yr had their bone density measured at the hip and spine. In addition, these women were given a postal questionnaire asking about life-style factors that may be associated with bone mineral density (BMD). Using stepwise multiple linear regression analysis we found that life-style or environmental factors explained a small but significant proportion of the variation in BMD. Statistically significant associations between anthropometric measures, exercise levels, fracture history and BMD were found. We also observed a positive association between self-reported numbers of miscarriages and BMD. This work supports the conclusions of smaller studies that risk factor analysis explains only a small amount of the variance in BMD.

Anthropometry↗
PubMed1989

The external costs of a sedentary life-style.

Using data from the National Health Interview Survey and the RAND Health Insurance Experiment, we estimated the external costs (costs borne by others) of a sedentary life-style. External costs stem from additional payments received by sedentary individuals from collectively financed programs such as health insurance, sick-leave coverage, disability insurance, and group life insurance. Those with sedentary life-styles incur higher medical costs, but their life expectancy at age 20 is 10 months less so they collect less public and private pensions. The pension costs come late in life, as do some of the medical costs, and so the estimate of the external cost is sensitive to the discount rate used. At a 5 percent rate of discount, the lifetime subsidy from others to those with a sedentary life style is $1,900. Our estimate of the subsidy is also sensitive to the assumed effect of exercise on mortality. The subsidy is a rationale for public support of recreational facilities such as parks and swimming pools and employer support of programs to increase exercise.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Association of life-style with intraocular pressure in middle-aged and older Japanese residents.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the associations of several life-style-related factors with intraocular pressure (IOP). METHODS: Of a total of 649 men and women who had been examined in an annual health check-up being conducted by a general hospital in Ibaraki prefecture, Japan, 569 individuals (age range, 29-79 years) who had not undergone any medical treatment for hypertension, ocular hypertension, or glaucoma, were selected as the subjects of this study. The associations of several life-style-related factors with the IOP were evaluated by multiple regression analyses and analyses of covariance. RESULTS: Body mass index (BMI), alcohol consumption score, and cigarette consumption were found to have a significantly positive association with the IOP in men (P for trend =.002, <.001, and <.001, respectively). In women also, the BMI was positively related to the IOP (P for trend =.071). In respect to the effects of coffee consumption, it was shown that in men the mean IOP adjusted for age, the BMI, alcohol intake score, cigarette consumption, and blood pressure were significantly lower in habitual coffee drinkers than in coffee abstainers (P =.016). CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that the IOP level may be substantially affected by daily life-style among Japanese.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

General practitioners' promotion of healthy life styles: what patients think.

The study examined the prevalence of cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, exercising to keep fit and dieting to lose weight among general practice patients, and patients' perceptions of the role of the general practitioner in advising about life style. A cross-sectional survey using a self-administered questionnaire was completed by 13,017 patients aged 18 to 70 years who were attending one of 119 general practitioners from 40 group practices in metropolitan Sydney over a six- to eight-week period. More women than men reported dieting to lose weight, just over half of the men and women were exercising regularly to keep fit, 35 per cent of men and 29 per cent of women reported smoking, and 12 per cent of men and 10 per cent of women were drinking alcohol at levels considered hazardous or harmful. More young people were smoking, drinking hazardously or harmfully, dieting to lose weight and exercising than the older age groups, and their smoking rates exceeded those of the general population. Most patients reported that general practitioners should be interested in their life-style behaviours, particularly smoking. Substantially fewer patients (particularly women who drank excessively) reported receiving advice about their habits. General practitioners were more likely to give advice when smoking and drinking levels were very high. There were discrepancies between patients' expectations of the doctor's role in promoting healthy life styles, and their likelihood of receiving advice. Doctors could reduce the diseases associated with unhealthy practices. Developments in medical training in the 1990s may extend the way they engage in advising on issues of life style.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1981

Life-styles and health: alternative patterns.

The life-styles of Europe now stand trial. There is a risk of advocating a rejection of technology on the basis of the drop in human life expectancy, alternations in biorhythms, and the phenomenon of alienation. While health organizations could serve as springboards for change in morbific social relations, their main contribution has been to the growth of health consumption. The experience of the working class in Italy in safeguarding health and changing environmental conditions is analyzed. In spite of its difficulties, this experience can provide insight on social systems and point the way toward future progress.

Environmental Health↗