New analysis examining five unhealthy behaviors – smoking, excessive drinking, insufficient sleep, physical inactivity, obesity – finds more than 25 million American adults have multiple unhealthy behaviors (three or more).
United Health Foundation's America's Health Rankings® Spotlight: Impact of Unhealthy Behaviors, released today in partnership with Family Medicine for America's Health, finds that with just one unhealthy behavior, an adult's odds of poor health doubles, and the 25 million Americans with three or more unhealthy behaviors have 6.1 times greater risk of fair or poor health status than those with zero unhealthy behaviors.
The prevalence of multiple unhealthy behaviors is higher for adults living in central and south central states, including Indiana, Michigan, Alabama, Kentucky and Mississippi, according to the report. Conversely, adults living in Minnesota, as well as western states such as California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Utah, and Colorado, and New England states, including Massachusetts, Connecticut and Vermont, have a lower prevalence of multiple unhealthy behaviors.
Additional findings include:
- Education and income levels have a "protective effect" on the likelihood of multiple unhealthy behaviors among adults aged 25 and older.
- Nearly 20% of adults with an income of less than $25,000 a year have multiple unhealthy behaviors, compared with approximately 7% of adults with an income higher than $75,000.
- More than 21% of adults who have not graduated from high school have three or more unhealthy behaviors, compared with only 5% of college graduates.
- Prevalence of multiple unhealthy behaviors among adults aged 25 and older without a high school diploma varies widely by geography.
- Although the percentage of college graduates with multiple unhealthy behaviors is relatively consistent across states, the percentage of adults who have not graduated from high school who have three or more unhealthy behaviors varies widely by state.
- The widest gaps in the prevalence of multiple unhealthy behaviors between college graduates and those who have not graduated from high school exist in Michigan (25.5%), District of Columbia (24.8%) and Tennessee (24.5%).
- The narrowest gaps are found in Nevada (7.8%), California (9.0%) and Illinois (10.2%).
"This report shows dramatically that even a single unhealthy behavior can lead to poor health and that the impact only multiplies with additional behaviors. We support the care community in seeking ways to help people better manage the issues that hurt their health," said Ana Fuentevilla, M.D., chief medical officer of UnitedHealthcare Community & State.
United Health Foundation's America's Health Rankings platform provides actionable, data-driven insights that people can use to inform change in their own communities.
"These findings underscore the importance of taking action to reduce the prevalence of unhealthy behaviors and to help people better manage their health," said Glen R. Stream, M.D., M.B.I., president and board chair of Family Medicine for America's Health and sponsor of the Health is Primary campaign (HealthisPrimary.org). "We must pay particular attention to the 12% of adults with multiple unhealthy behaviors, as the report indicates that they are most at-risk for poor health. We know that access to primary care can help address these issues. Members of Family Medicine for America's Health are collaborating with partners like United Health Foundation to increase understanding of how to help reduce the prevalence of unhealthy behaviors, and to reiterate the need for providers to address the health of the whole person rather than view each behavior in isolation."
The report analyzes data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey, the largest health phone survey in the world. To read the report and other materials, including visual illustrations, visit: www.americashealthrankings.org/spotlight/unhealthybehaviors.
About United Health Foundation's America's Health Rankings and Spotlight: Impact of Unhealthy Behaviors
Spotlight: Impact of Unhealthy Behaviors is the second of several spotlights to be released this year by United Health Foundation focused on important markers of the nation's health, including impacts of unhealthy living, substance abuse and mental health. The spotlights complement the America's Health Rankings Annual Report and the America's Health Rankings Senior Report, as well as new population reports that examine the health of mothers and children and the health of those who have served our country. For more information, visit www.americashealthrankings.org.
About United Health Foundation
Through collaboration with community partners, grants and outreach efforts, United Health Foundation works to improve our health system, build a diverse and dynamic health workforce and enhance the well-being of local communities. United Health Foundation was established by UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) in 1999 as a not-for-profit, private foundation dedicated to improving health and health care. To date, United Health Foundation has committed more than $285 million to programs and communities around the world. We invite you to learn more at www.unitedhealthfoundation.org.
About Family Medicine for America's Health
Family Medicine for America's Health is an ongoing collaboration between the eight leading family medicine organizations in the United States to drive continued improvement of the U.S. health care system and demonstrate the value of true primary care. We include: American Academy of Family Physicians; American Academy of Family Physicians Foundation; American Board of Family Medicine; American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians; Association of Family Medicine Residency Directors North American Primary Care Research Group; and Society of Teachers of Family Medicine. For more information, visit fmahealth.org. Family Medicine for America's Health is the sponsor of the Health is Primary campaign, which is focused on demonstrating how a strong primary care system can help deliver on the Triple Aim of better health and better quality at a lower cost.
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