Change trends in health behaviors among residents in Liaoning province,1991-2006

Objective To analyze the change trends of health behaviors among residents in Liaoning province from 1991-2006.Methods Based on the data from China Health and Nutrition Survey in Liaoning Province(1991,1993,2000,2004 and 2006),change trends in health behaviors,such as smoking,alcohol drinking,exercise and sedentary lifestyle were analyzed.Results From 1991 to 2006,the prevalence of smoking among the adults aged 18 years and older decreased from 35.5% to 29.3%(χ²=8.37,P=0.0431),and the prevalence decreased in the males from 66.8% to 53.0%(χ²=19.14,P=0.021 0),but no significant change was found in the females.However,the amount of smoking in the smokers increased from 13.1 to 16.2 cigarettes per day(F=22.65,P<0.000 1).The prevalence of alcohol consumption in men was also decreased from 70.5% to 59.8% and from 14.7% to 7.5% in women from 1991 to 2006(χ²=12.06,P=0.000 5;χ²=14.15,P=0.000 1).Compared with 2004,the consumption of soft drinks increased,the consumption of fruit juice beverage decreased among children and adolescents in 2006,and the percentage of children and adolescents drinking beverage everyday increased from 9.8% to 11.6%(χ²=5.31,P<0.000 1).From 2000 to 2006,the prevalence of regular exercise in adults increased from 6.3% to 16.5%,but decreased from 46.5% to 32.1% in children and adolescents(χ²=51.71,P<0.000 1;χ²=6.53,P=0.010 6).In the adults,children,and adolescents,the time of computer use was increased in 2006 compared with that in 2004.The time of computer use increased from 13.0 to 20.5 hours per week in adults and increased from 9.5 to 13.0 hours per week in children and adolescents(F=5.49,P=0.020 6;F=17.51,P<0.000 1).ConclusionThe prevalences of smoking and alcohol drinking decreased in residents of Liaoning province,but attention should be paid to the increases of soft drinks consumption and of sedentary time.