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| For more information contact: Joseph Thornton, Media Coordinator/Public Information
Specialist For immediate release Health report looks at lifestyles in West Virginia A recently published survey shows that 76 percent of adults in West Virginia rated their own health as good or excellent in 2001. The number is up from 75 percent in 2000. These and other findings about health and lifestyle are in the 2001 Behavioral Risk Factor Survey, a report released by the West Virginia Bureau for Public Health's Office of Epidemiology and Health Promotion. The report presents data on behaviors, or risk factors, that can put people at risk of preventable illness and premature death. These factors include obesity and overweight, physical inactivity, cigarette smoking, smokeless tobacco use and alcohol misuse. Data were obtained through random telephone interviews of state residents. County data for the period 1997 through 2001 also are included. West Virginia has high rates of several risk factors. The state led the nation in the prevalence of high blood pressure (33 percent) and ranked second highest in obesity (25 percent). It was fourth highest (28 percent) in cigarette smoking and fifth highest (9 percent) in diabetes. Smokeless tobacco use among men in West Virginia (17 percent) also topped a list of 15 states that included the topic in their state surveys. On the brighter side, West Virginians do well when it comes to some risk factors as residents continue to report some of the lowest rates of alcohol misuse in the country. Only Kentucky and Tennessee reported lower rates. And physical inactivity, although high at 32 percent, has improved. The rate is down from 44 percent in 1998. In 2001, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveys were conducted by all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. The results mark West Virginia's 18th year of participation in the system, coordinated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The findings are used to help establish health policies and priorities and to monitor the impact of disease prevention efforts. County data, in addition to other reports, statistical briefs and publications, can be accessed at http://www.wvdhhr.org/bph/oehp/hsc/hschome.htm. -30- |