Health behaviors, lifestyle and gender in Brazilian adults

Abstract

Background: It has been estimated that over 50% of the premature deaths in Western can be attributed to lifestyle. This work aimed to identify, from a gender-based perspective, the psychosocial factors associated with healthy lifestyles in the ELSA-Brasil cohort, the largest study concerning adult health conducted in Latin America. Methods: The ELSA-Brasil is a longitudinal study and consists of 15,000 employees from higher education institutions. Data were collected using the ELSA-Brasil questionnaire, a multidimensional instrument. The indicator of lifestyle was constructed using four behaviors: tobacco use, alcohol consumption, physical activity and nutrition. Findings: The women adopt healthier lifestyles than men. In women, strong associations were found between a healthy lifestyle and age 60 years or older (OR=2.21; IC95% 1.79-2.72), Asian race (OR=2.29; IC95% 1.57-3.36) and university level of education or higher (OR=1.89; IC95% 1.55-2.29). In men, being 60 years or older (OR=1.32; IC95% 1.08-1.61), of Asian (OR=1.66; IC95% 1.05-2.60) or Caucasian race (OR=1.20; IC95% 1.02-1.41), having a high-school equivalent level of education or higher (OR=1.36; IC95% 1.17-1.59), being retired (OR=1.31; IC95% 1.07-1.61) , having a housekeeper (OR=1.34; IC95% 1.16-1.56), having a good or very good self-perception of health (OR=1.20; IC95% 1.02-1.41) and being satisfied with one’s own body image (OR=1.23; IC95% 1.07-1.41) were the psychosocial factors associated with leading a healthy lifestyle. Discussion: These factors, different between men and women, should be considered in health promotion interventions.