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IntroductionKey FindingsNational InsightsPrevalence of Unhealthy BehaviorsPrevalence of Multiple Unhealthy BehaviorsPrevalence of Zero Unhealthy BehaviorsOdds of Reporting Fair or Poor Health StatusState InsightsMultiple Unhealthy Behaviors: Education-Based DifferencesConclusionsAppendix 1Appendix 2Appendix 3Appendix 4FootnotesAbout United Health Foundation
The prevalence of unhealthy behaviors varies widely among US adults. Seventy-two percent report having at least one unhealthy behavior, while more than 25 million (12.0%) report having multiple (three or more) unhealthy behaviors.
The odds of reporting fair or poor health status increase with the addition of each unhealthy behavior studied. Adults with multiple unhealthy behaviors are 6.1 times more likely to report fair or poor health than those reporting zero unhealthy behaviors.
Adults aged 25 and older making less than $25,000/year are more likely to report having multiple unhealthy behaviors than those at higher income levels. Similarly, adults who have not graduated from high school are more likely to have multiple unhealthy behaviors than those with higher education levels, and the gap is widest when compared to college graduates.
The percent of college graduates aged 25 and older reporting multiple unhealthy behaviors is relatively consistent across states. However, the prevalence of multiple unhealthy behaviors among adults who have not graduated from high school varies widely by geography.