Resumo

LIMA-COSTA, Maria Fernanda. Are health lifestyles of older and younger adults in Brazil similarly affected by education?: Health survey in the Metropolitan area of Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. Epidemiol. Serv. Saúde [online]. 2004, vol.13, n.4, pp.201-208. ISSN 1679-4974.  http://dx.doi.org/10.5123/S1679-49742004000400002.

The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of health lifestyles among older adults, in comparison with younger ones, as well as examining the influence of educational level such lifestyles. The work was carried out in a representative sample of residents in the Metropolitan Area of Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais State, aged 60 years or more (n=1,786) and those aged 20-59 years (n=12,065). The prevalence of risk factors (current tobacco smoking, binge drinking, no physical activity during leisure time, and inadequate consumption of fresh fruits and/or vegetables) was high in both age groups. As a rule, the older adults were less exposed than younger adults to risk factors, probably due to survival bias, health problems and/or health concerns. Education was independently associated with several lifestyles, reinforcing the hypothesis that these behaviors are socially determined in younger as well as in older adults.

Palavras-chave : health of the elderly; health lifestyles; epidemiology of aging.

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