Simultaneity of health risk behaviors and associated factors in a population-based study

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of simultaneous health-related behaviors and examine their association with sociodemographic and health conditions in the population aged 40 or older in a medium-sized city in southern Brazil.MethodsWe carried out a population-based study. The investigated risk behaviors were physical inactivity, irregular consumption of fruits and vegetables, smoking, and alcohol abuse. The dependent variables of the study were the sum of the exposure to risk behaviors and the possible two-by-two behavior combinations.ResultsAssociations were observed between all behaviors, except physical inactivity with alcohol abuse. In general, men presented a higher prevalence of three and four behaviors, as well as between the possible combinations of behaviors. The independent variables age, socioeconomic status, educational level, marital status, and perceived health were also associated with the investigated outcomes.ConclusionsWe suggest that policies and strategies to promote health focus broadly on behavior, and not be limited to specific actions for each isolated behavior.