Close
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
Of an estimated 58.5 million US adults, or 28.1%, with zero unhealthy behaviors, the map shows a similar clustering of states as was found in the MUB analysis (Figure 7). States with the lowest proportion of adults with zero unhealthy behaviors are clustered in the East North Central and East South Central Census Divisions, while states with the highest proportion of adults with zero unhealthy behaviors are clustered in the Pacific, Mountain, and New England Census Divisions, as well as Minnesota.
Among subpopulations analyzed, college graduates (40.0%), non-Hispanic whites (29.7%), females (29.9%), those with an income of $50,000 to $74,999 (29.3%) and those with income of $75,000 of more (35.9%), and those aged 65 and older (34.9%) have a higher prevalence of zero unhealthy behaviors compared with the national rate (28.1%) (Figures 8-11). Subpopulation data are reported in Table 3.
Figure 7 - Percentage of Adults with Zero Unhealthy Behaviors*, United States (BRFSS 2014)
*Multiple unhealthy behaviors is any combination of three or more of following five unhealthy behaviors: smoking, physical inactivity, excessive drinking, obesity, and insufficient sleep.
Figure 8 - Percentage of Adults with Zero Unhealthy Behaviors* by Race/Ethnicity, United States (BRFSS 2014) 
Figure 9 - Percentage of Adults Aged 25 and Older with Zero Unhealthy Behaviors* by Education Level, United States (BRFSS 2014) 
Figure 10 - Percentage of Adults Aged 25 and Older with Zero Unhealthy Behaviors* by Income (BRFSS 2014) 
Figure 11- Percentage of Adults with Zero Unhealthy Behaviors* by Age and Gender, United States (BRFSS 2014) 
Table 3 - Value and Estimated Population Count of Adults with Zero Unhealthy Behaviors* by Subpopulation** 
The prevalence of the individual unhealthy behaviors explored in this report have all been declining over the past two to four years except for obesity, which has seen a 1.8% increase (27.8% in 2012 to 29.6% in 2015). For more information on individual unhealthy behaviors and the distribution of each behavior in the United States, see Appendix 2.