Living longer and feeling better: healthy lifestyle, self-rated health, obesity and depression in Ireland
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Accepted Version
Date
2010-02-01
Authors
Harrington, Janas M.
Perry, Ivan J.
Lutomski, Jennifer E.
Fitzgerald, Anthony P.
Shiely, Frances
McGee, Hannah
Barry, Margaret M.
Van Lente, Eric
Morgan, Karen
Shelley, Emer
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Oxford University Press
Published Version
Abstract
Background: The combination of four protective lifestyle behaviours (being physically active, a non-smoker, a moderate alcohol consumer and having adequate fruit and vegetable intake) has been estimated to increase life expectancy by 14 years. However, the effect of adopting these lifestyle behaviours on general health, obesity and mental health is less defined. We examined the combined effect of these behaviours on self-rated health, overweight/obesity and depression. Methods: Using data from the Survey of Lifestyle Attitudes and Nutrition (SLÁN) 2007 (), a protective lifestyle behaviour (PLB) score was constructed for 10 364 men and women (>18 years), and representative of the Republic of Ireland adult population (response rate 62%). Respondents scored a maximum of four points, one point each for being physically active, consuming five or more fruit and vegetable servings daily, a non-smoker and a moderate drinker. Results: One-fifth of respondents (20%) adopted four PLBs, 35% adopted three, 29% two, 13% one and 2% adopted none. Compared to those with zero PLBs, those with four were seven times more likely to rate their general health as excellent/very good [OR 6.8 95% CI (3.64–12.82)] and four times more likely to have better mental health [OR 4.4 95% CI (2.34–8.22)]. Conclusions: Adoption of core protective lifestyle factors known to increase life expectancy is associated with positive self-rated health, healthier weight and better mental health. These lifestyles have the potential to add quality and quantity to life.
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Keywords
Lifestyle behaviours , Self-rated health , Depression , Protective factors
Citation
HARRINGTON, J., PERRY, I. J., LUTOMSKI, J., FITZGERALD, A. P., SHIELY, F., MCGEE, H., BARRY, M. M., VAN LENTE, E., MORGAN, K. & SHELLEY, E. 2010. Living longer and feeling better: healthy lifestyle, self-rated health, obesity and depression in Ireland. The European Journal of Public Health, 20, 91-95. doi: 10.1093/eurpub/ckp102
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Copyright
© The Author 2009. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Public Health Association. All rights reserved.. This is a pre-copy-editing, author-produced PDF of an article accepted for publication in The European Journal of Public Health following peer review. The definitive publisher-authenticated version Janas Harrington, Ivan J. Perry, Jennifer Lutomski, Anthony P. Fitzgerald, Frances Shiely, Hannah McGee, Margaret M. Barry, Eric Van Lente, Karen Morgan, and Emer Shelley (2010) Living longer and feeling better: healthy lifestyle, self-rated health, obesity and depression in Ireland. The European Journal of Public Health 20 (1) 91-95 is available online at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckp102