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Modifiable Characteristics of a Healthy Lifestyle in U.S. Older Adults With or Without Frequent Mental Distress: 2003 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System

From the Division of Adult and Community Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA. The findings and conclusions in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Objective: To examine the associations between frequent mental distress (FMD; 14 or more mentally unhealthy days during the previous 30 days), health behaviors, body weight, and use of preventive services among adults 65 years using the 2003 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS).

Methods: Participants (N = 52,600) were asked how many days during the past 30 days that their mental health was not good. Having a healthy weight (body mass index 18.5–24.9 kg/m²), not smoking, consuming 1 alcoholic beverage per day, consuming of at least five fruits or vegetables daily, participating in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity during the average week, receiving an annual influenza immunization, and ever receiving a pneumococcal immunization were examined in addition to combinations of these behaviors.

Results: People with FMD were less likely than those without FMD to be nonsmokers (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 0.67, confidence interval [CI] = 0.53–0.85), to consume at least five fruits or vegetables daily (AOR = 0.80, CI = 0.70–0.91), and to participate in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity during the average week (AOR = 0.82, CI = 0.68–0.99). However, there was no difference between those with and without FMD in the consumption of 1 alcoholic beverage per day, having a healthy weight, receiving an annual influenza immunization, and ever receiving a pneumococcal immunization.

Conclusions: Older adults with FMD are less likely to engage in many health behaviors and to use preventive services than those without FMD.

Key Words: Aging • health behaviors • behavioral risk factor surveillance system • frequent mental distress