Health behavior characteristics and all-cause mortality

OBJECTIVE: To examine the potential dose–response relationship between four positive health characteristics (i.e., normal body mass index, physically active, healthy diet and non-smoker) and all-cause mortality. METHODS: Data from the 2003–2006 NHANES were used (20 + years; N = 5844), with follow-up through 2011. Participants wore an ActiGraph 7164 accelerometer over a period of up to 7 days to assess physical activity. Dietary behavior and smoking were assessed via self-report. Body mass index was measured using standard procedures. RESULTS: There was a clear dose–response relationship between the number of positive health characteristics and all-cause mortality. After adjusting for age, gender, race-ethnicity and comorbid illness, and compared to those with 0 positive health characteristics, those with 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively, had a 39% (HR = 0.61; 95% CI: 0.40–0.94), 48% (HR = 0.52; 95% CI: 0.34–0.80), 62% (HR = 0.38; 95% CI: 0.22–0.64) and 88% (HR = 0.12; 95% CI: 0.05–0.29) reduced risk of all-cause mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Adoption of more positive health characteristics is associated with greater survival.