Smoking, physical inactivity, and obesity among seniors: Geographic variation and their association with health status

Background                 

Health behaviors have immediate and/or delayed impact on the overall health of seniors.  America’s Health Rankings Senior Report examines health determinants and outcomes by state.

Objectives/Purpose

Our objective is to describe the geographic variation in health behaviors of seniors by state, and to measure associations between behaviors and high health status.

Methods

Using data from the 2014 edition of America’s Health Rankings Senior Report, the correlation between  state values of 3 behavior measures (smoking, obesity and physical inactivity) and the outcome measure high (very good or excellent) health status were examined.

Results

All 3 behaviors were inversely associated with high health status among seniors, with physical inactivity as the strongest predictor. The higher the rate of physically inactive seniors, the lower the rate of seniors with high health status (r=-0.749, p<0.001). Physical inactivity among seniors varied from 22.4% in California to 42.0% in Kentucky. Similarly, the higher the smoking rate among seniors, the lower the rate of seniors with high health status (r=-0.472, p<0.001). Smoking among seniors varied from a low of 4.7% in Utah to high of 14.3% in Nevada. Finally, the higher the obesity rate among seniors, the lower the rate of seniors reporting high health status r=-0.324, p=0.05). Obesity among seniors varies from 14.1% in Hawaii to 30.4% in Louisiana.

Discussion

Improving modifiable health behaviors, such as physical inactivity, smoking, and obesity may lead to better health status among seniors. Programs that focus on these behaviors may increase state rates of high health status.