Four Unhealthy Behaviors Combine To Increase Risk Of Death

“Several studies have shown that specific health behaviors, including cigarette smoking, physical inactivity, higher alcohol intake and, to a lesser extent, diets low in fruits and vegetables, are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer and premature mortality [death],” the authors write as background information in the article. Most studies that examine the effects of these behaviors control for other unhealthy behaviors to identify independent effects. However, several poor lifestyle choices may coexist in the same individual.

“To fully understand the public health impact of these behaviors, it is necessary to examine both their individual and combined impact on health outcomes,” reports a University research finding. The researchers interviewed 4,886 individuals age 18 or older in 1984 to 1985. “A health behavior score was calculated, allocating one point for each poor behavior: smoking; fruits and vegetables consumed less than three times daily; less than two hours physical activity per week; and weekly consumption of more than 14 units [one unit equals 8 grams, or about 0.3 ounces] of alcohol (in women) and more than 21 units (in men).”

During an average of 20 years of follow-up, 1,080 participants died – 431 from cardiovascular disease, 318 from cancer and 331 from other causes. When compared with participants who had no poor health behaviors, the risk of death from all causes and from each cause increased with each additional behavior.

Individuals with four compared with zero poor health behaviors had about three times the risk of dying of cardiovascular disease or cancer, four times the risk of dying from other causes and an overall death risk equivalent to being 12 years older.

“Modest but achievable adjustments to lifestyle behaviors are likely to have a considerable impact at both the individual and population level,” the authors conclude. “Developing more efficacious methods by which to promote healthy diets and lifestyles across the population should be an important priority of public health policy.

Why some kids dont fit in

It’s no secret that social rejection can be devastating to children and adolescents. Past research has shown that children who get picked on or just don’t fit in are more likely to do poorly in school, experience depression and try drugs.

In order to prevent the harmful effects of social isolation on youngsters, researchers at a UNiversity have been studying children’s social patterns to better identify and treat factors that lead to social rejection.

To do so, researchers observed two very different groups of children. The first was a random sample of 158 schoolchildren. The second was a random sample of children and teens who had been referred to a Neurobehavioral Center for challenges with social-emotional learning.

Noting the differences between the two groups, the study found three major areas of social-emotional learning difficulties in children who had a hard time with social interactions:

A lack of awareness of non-verbal or social cues. “They simply don’t notice the way someone’s shoulders slump with disappointment, or hear the change in someone’s voice when they are excited, or take in whether a person’s face shows anger or sadness,” said Dr. Clark McKown, the study’s lead researcher.

Difficulties attaching meaning to social clues. Some children may notice these changes in body language or voice but have trouble recognizing what these changes mean about the other person.
The ability to reason about social problems. Even for some children who can recognize and understand the meaning of social clues, figuring out how to solve social problems can be a challenge.
Having pinpointed these key areas in social learning, researchers now aim to better assess deficits and help children improve key social skills.