FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH HEALTH BEHAVIOR-CHANGE AMONG RESIDENTS 50 TO 96 YEARS OF AGE IN RANCHO-BERNARDO, CALIFORNIA

Alterations in personal health habits can prevent disease and reduce m orbidity and mortality. We examined the association between self-repor ted healthy behavioral change and age, sex, chronic disease, plasma ch olesterol, and body mass index in an older Caucasian population in sou thern California. Overall, about two thirds of respondents reported de creased dietary salt or fat intake over the last 15 years, whereas one third reported increased frequency of exercise. Women were more likel y than men to report increasing exercise, changing diet, or reading se lf-help materials. Individuals 50-69 years of age reported more positi ve health behavior changes than those 70 years and older. Those with d iabetes and hypertension were more likely to decrease salt intake, but less likely to increase exercise than those without disease. Hyperten sive and diabetic men, but not women, were also more likely to change their diet or read self-help materials than their peers without diseas e. The presence of risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as ob esity, elevated serum cholesterol, diabetes, and hypertension, were ge nerally associated with positive alterations in diet and inversely rel ated to increasing exercise.