. "5 Behavior Risk Factors." Understanding Racial and Ethnic Differences in Health in Late Life: A Research Agenda. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press, 2004.
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Understanding Racial and Ethnic Differences in Health in Late Life: A Research Agenda
TABLE 5-1 Self-Reported Health Risk Behaviors, by Race and Ethnicity
Percentage of states where group median exceeds white median
—
11.0
66.0
25.0
91.0
States included
—
35
35
8
11
aMedian percentages across states; fewer states are represented for minorities, particularly the last two groups, because of small samples.
bBody mass index of 30 kg/m2 or higher.
cFive or more alcoholic drinks at least once in past month.
SOURCE: Data from Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 1997 (Bolen et al., 2000: Table 24).
and less physical activity, even among high-functioning people aged 70-79 (Kubzansky et al., 1998). Controlling for education and income reduces the apparent behavioral disadvantages of blacks and Hispanics at all adult ages. However, it does not increase any advantage in lower alcohol consumption, and one marginal difference—a Hispanic advantage in lower cigarette smoking—becomes significant when socioeconomic factors are taken into account (Winkleby and Cubbin, 2004). Some differences clearly cannot be explained by socioeconomic factors, at least to the extent socioeconomic differences can presently be measured (Braveman et al., 2001; Kaufman et al., 1997). Whether controlling for home ownership and other
