Healthy Lifestyles

Presented By:Arielle Phillips

Kristen Yurkavage

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

• US Government agency responsible for public health prevention, promotion, and preparedness– Created in Atlanta, GA in 1946 with a focus on fighting malaria by

killing mosquitoes

• Prevent and control diseases, injuries, workplace hazards, disabilities and environmental health threats.

• Current Strategic Initiatives– Support State and local health departments– Improve global health– Decrease leading causes of death– Strengthen surveillance and epidemiology– Reform legislation and health policy

Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey (BRFSS)

• 350,000 plus adults are interviewed each year • World’s largest, telephone health survey system• Tracks health conditions and risk behaviors in the

United States yearly since 1984 • Measures a series of lifestyle characteristics that

relate to health and longevity• Compiles data on state-by-state basis

Collection of Data

• Data is collected monthly in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam

• States use data for:– Identify emerging health problems– Establish and track health objectives– Develop and evaluate public health policies and

programs – Support health-related legislative efforts

Data

• BINGE – five or more drinks on an occasion in the past month• DWI – driven after too much to drink• BMI – people in the healthy range– Each respondent’s reported weight & height, which was

translated into a body mass index (BMI)• Smoker – smoking at least 100 cigarettes in their lifetime and

are current smokers• Seatbelt – not always wearing a seatbelt when they drive or

ride in a car• Exercise – not having exercised at all in the past month

Summary of BRFSS

BINGE DWI BMI SMOKER SEATBELT EXERCISE0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

5%1%

23%

14% 13%17%

23%

5%

35%

28%

58%

46% MINMAX

Average Behavioral Results

BINGE DWI BMI SMOKER SEATBELT EXERCISE0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

14%

2%

28%

23%

34%29%

Pennsylvania Statistics Summary

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

BINGE

DWI

BMI

SMOKER

SEATBELT

EXERCISE

DWI vs. Binge Drinking

Nevada Wisconsin0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

3.7% 4.5%

19.0%22.9%

DWIBINGE

Comparison of Exercise vs. Smoking

Lowest Average Percentage Highest Average Percentage

ExerciseSmoking

ExerciseSmoking

Data Limitations

• Data Collection– Partially completed interviews

• Telephone hang-ups, respondents’ refusals, etc.

– Language Barrier– Undetermined Eligibility

• Results– Varying amounts of respondents in each state– Demographics unknown– Certain results inconclusive

Any Questions?