The combined effect of smoking, lack of exercise, poor diet, and alcohol use is associated with a significantly increased risk for death, according to a study published in the April 26, 2010 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine. This finding is based on data from the United Kingdom Health and Lifestyle Survey.

While smoking, physical activity, diet, and alcohol consumption have each been shown to be related to the risk for death, most studies evaluate these risk factors individually. In this study, researchers from the University of Oslo, Norway and their colleagues sought to fully understand the public health impact of unhealthy behaviors by examining both their individual and combined impact on the risk for death. In order to do this, the researchers interviewed 4886 men and women in the United Kingdom who were at least 18 years old. Each of the study participants was assigned a health behavior score, where 1 point was assigned for each of the following unhealthy behaviors – 1) smoking, 2) less than 3 daily servings of fruits and vegetables, 3) less than 2 hours of physical activity per week, and 4) weekly consumption of excessive alcohol. The researchers found that the risk for death increased as the number of unhealthy behaviors increased. They also found that the risk for death increased nearly 4-fold among study participants with all four unhealthy behaviors.

Based on the findings of the United Kingdom Health and Lifestyle Survey, the researchers conclude that small, but sustained, improvements in diet and lifestyle could have a substantial positive impact on the public health. The development of more effective methods of promoting healthy diets and lifestyles could significantly reduce the risk for death.

Source:

Arch Intern Med. 2010; 170: 711-718.