Health behavior-related indicator of lifestyle: application in the ELSA-Brasil study

Various behaviors are considered health enhancing. Nevertheless, according to the current scientific literature, four health behaviors are considered particularly risky in view of their association with a group of chronic diseases: 1) smoking; 2) excessive alcohol consumption; 3) poor diet; and 4) l...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Global health promotion 2019-12, Vol.26 (4), p.62-69
Main Authors: Patrão, Ana Luísa, Almeida, Maria-da-Conceição C., Alvim, Sheila, Chor, Dora, Aquino, Estela M. L.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Alcohol
Alcohol Education
Alcohol use
Behavior Patterns
Chronic illnesses
Classification
Diet
Drinking
Eating behavior
Eating Habits
Females
Health behavior
Health promotion
Healthy habits
Individual Characteristics
Latent class analysis
Leisure Time
Lifestyles
Longitudinal studies
Males
Physical Activities
Physical activity
Population
Psychological Patterns
Smoking
Software packages
Statistical Analysis
Walking
Womens health
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Summary:Various behaviors are considered health enhancing. Nevertheless, according to the current scientific literature, four health behaviors are considered particularly risky in view of their association with a group of chronic diseases: 1) smoking; 2) excessive alcohol consumption; 3) poor diet; and 4) lack of physical activity. Theoretically, it should be possible to make improvements to one’s health by maximizing the number of healthy behaviors and minimizing the unhealthy ones. However, in reality, the different behaviors interconnect to create more complex lifestyles. Therefore, the objective of this paper is to present the construction of a lifestyle indicator based on health behaviors selected in the ELSA-Brazil study. This indicator revealed two lifestyles: less healthy and healthier lifestyles. The model proved adequate and was confirmed using latent class analysis (LCA). Agreement was 83.2 between the indicator and the LCA results, with a kappa coefficient of 0.65. Women were more likely to have a healthier lifestyle than men, reinforcing the scientific consistency of the indicator, since this finding is in agreement with data from the scientific literature. The indicator created to define lifestyle was found to have scientific consistency and validity; therefore, its use can be recommended for future population-based studies concerning the promotion of health and healthy lifestyles.
ISSN:1757-9759
1757-9767
DOI:10.1177/1757975918763148