Nutrition and health - the association between eating behavior and various health parameters: a matched sample study.

Population-based studies have consistently shown that our diet has an influence on health. Therefore, the aim of our study was to analyze differences between different dietary habit groups in terms of health-related variables. The sample used for this cross-sectional study was taken from the Austrian Health Interview Survey AT-HIS 2006/07. In a first step, subjects were matched according to their age, sex, and socioeconomic status (SES). After matching, the total number of subjects included in the analysis was 1320 (N = 330 for each form of diet - vegetarian, carnivorous diet rich in fruits and vegetables, carnivorous diet less rich in meat, and carnivorous diet rich in meat). Analyses of variance were conducted controlling for lifestyle factors in the following domains: health (self-assessed health, impairment, number of chronic conditions, vascular risk), health care (medical treatment, vaccinations, preventive check-ups), and quality of life. In addition, differences concerning the presence of 18 chronic conditions were analyzed by means of Chi-square tests. Overall, 76.4% of all subjects were female. 40.0% of the individuals were younger than 30 years, 35.4% between 30 and 49 years, and 24.0% older than 50 years. 30.3% of the subjects had a low SES, 48.8% a middle one, and 20.9% had a high SES. Our results revealed that a vegetarian diet is related to a lower BMI and less frequent alcohol consumption. Moreover, our results showed that a vegetarian diet is associated with poorer health (higher incidences of cancer, allergies, and mental health disorders), a higher need for health care, and poorer quality of life. Therefore, public health programs are needed in order to reduce the health risk due to nutritional factors

The influence of socioeconomic factors on health parameters in overweight and obese adults.

The prevalence of being overweight and of obesity is increasing worldwide, and is associated with a high risk to health. Therefore, the aim of our study was to investigate whether normal weight, overweight and obese subjects of low, middle or high socioeconomic status (SES) differ with regard to their health behavior, health, quality of life, and the use of medical care. Data from the Austrian Health Interview Survey (ATHIS) 2006/07, comprising 3 groups of 1,077 individuals, each of whom were normal weight, overweight, or obese, respectively, and matched according to their age, sex and SES, were analyzed concerning health outcomes. The results show that subjects with a low SES differ significantly from those of high SES in terms of their health behavior, self-perceived health, levels of impairment, chronic conditions, quality of life, and health care. Additionally, obesity in adults is associated with sub-optimal dietary practices and worse health, poorer quality of life and medical care than normal weight and overweight individuals. A significant interaction between the weight class and SES was found concerning physical exercise, impairment due to health problems and chronic diseases. A low SES has a strong negative impact on health, especially in obese individuals. Therefore a continuous target group-oriented, non-discriminatory public health program is required, prioritizing obese subjects with low SES

Trends in inequalities in health, risk and preventive behaviour among the advanced-age population in Austria: 1983-2007.

BACKGROUND:Although a number of previous research studies have focused on the long-term analysis of the health and health behaviour of the elderly, there is still a shortage of information in relation to the long-term trends regarding health or risk and preventive behaviour in the elderly population taking into account gender differences and differences in educational level. METHODS:The database comprised subsamples of the Austrian Micro-Census, including individuals aged 65 years and older, for the years 1983, 1991, 1999, and subsamples of the ATHIS (Austrian Health Interview Survey) 2007. A trend analysis was conducted for four health-related variables with the year of the survey and education as predictors. The analysis was stratified by sex. RESULTS:We found a general trend towards better self-rated health, better preventive and less risk behaviour among the elderly, while the body mass index has been increasing over the years. There are indeed gender differences regarding the trend in smoking behaviour. While the prevalence of male smoking has been steadily decreasing, female smoking prevalence has not changed. At all points in time, individuals with higher education had significantly better self-rated health than those with lower education but the association between education and preventive behaviour significantly decreased over the years. CONCLUSION:We agree with previous research in concluding that preventive action and health promotion should aim in particular to support older women and men with lower education

Health in normal weight, overweight and obesity.

<p><i>Note.</i> Data source: Austrian Health Interview Survey (ATHIS) 2006/07. M = mean, SD = standard deviation.</p>1<p>higher score means better results,</p>2<p>higher score means worse results. Analyses were calculated with subjects matched by age, sex, and socio-economic status (N = 3231).</p

Differences in suffering from various chronic conditions between the different dietary habit groups.

<p><i>Note.</i> Data source: Austrian Health Interview Survey (AT-HIS) 2006/07. Percentage of subjects suffering from the different chronic conditions. p (χ²): probability value of Chi-Square-Test. Analyses were calculated with subjects matched according to their age, sex, and socio-economic status (N = 1320).</p

Impairment due to health problems, number of chronic conditions, physical exercise, and quality of life regarding psychological health in normal weight, overweight and obese subjects with a different SES.

<p><i>Note.</i> Data source: Austrian Health Interview Survey (ATHIS) 2006/07. Analyses were calculated with subjects matched by age, sex, and SES (N = 3231). Health impairment, physical exercise, and WHOQOL (Quality of life) regarding psychological health: higher score means better results; chronic conditions: higher score means worse results.</p

Health care in normal weight, overweight and obesity.

<p><i>Note.</i> Data source: Austrian Health Interview Survey (ATHIS) 2006/07. M = mean, SD = standard deviation.</p>1<p>higher score means better results. Analyses were calculated with subjects matched by age, sex, and socio-economic status (N = 3231).</p

Health behavior in normal weight, overweight and obesity.

<p><i>Note.</i> Data source: Austrian Health Interview Survey (ATHIS) 2006/07. M = mean, SD = standard deviation.</p>1<p>higher score means better results,</p>2<p>higher score means worse results,</p>3<p>higher score means more meat consumption. Analyses were calculated with subjects matched by age, sex, and socio-economic status (N = 3231).</p

Quality of life in normal weight, overweight and obesity.

<p><i>Note.</i> Data source: Austrian Health Interview Survey (ATHIS) 2006/07. M = mean, SD = standard deviation.</p>1<p>higher score means better results. Analyses were calculated with subjects matched by age, sex, and socio-economic status (N = 3231).</p

Data definition and structure for normal weight, overweight and obese subjects, respectively, in each SES group.

<p><i>Note.</i> Data source: Austrian Health Interview Survey (ATHIS) 2006/07. Number of subjects. Analyses were calculated with subjects matched by age, sex, and socio-economic status (N = 3231). The subjects represented in this study were included nine times respectively: normal weight subjects with a low/middle/high SES, overweight subjects with a low/middle/high SES, and obese subjects with a low/middle/high SES.</p