The European Journal of Public Health Advance Access first published online on July 8, 2009
This version published online on September 18, 2009
The European Journal of Public Health, doi:10.1093/eurpub/ckp102
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Living longer and feeling better: healthy lifestyle, self-rated health, obesity and depression in Ireland
Janas Harrington1, Ivan J. Perry1, Jennifer Lutomski1, Anthony P. Fitzgerald1, Frances Shiely1, Hannah McGee2, Margaret M. Barry3, Eric Van Lente3, Karen Morgan2 and Emer Shelley2
1 Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College Cork, Ireland
2 Division of Population Health Sciences, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Ireland
3 Department of Health Promotion, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
Correspondence: Janas Harrington, Department of Epidemiology & Public Health, University College Cork, Room 2.62, Brookfield Health Sciences Complex, College Road, Cork, Ireland, tel: +353-21-4901597, fax: +353-21-4901604, e-mail: j.harrington{at}ucc.ie
Received March 27, 2009 , accepted June 18, 2009
Background: The combination of four protective lifestyle behaviours (being physically active, a non-smoker, a moderate alcohol consumer and having adequate fruit and vegetable intake) has been estimated to increase life expectancy by 14 years. However, the effect of adopting these lifestyle behaviours on general health, obesity and mental health is less defined. We examined the combined effect of these behaviours on self-rated health, overweight/obesity and depression. Methods: Using data from the Survey of Lifestyle Attitudes and Nutrition (SLÁN) 2007 (), a protective lifestyle behaviour (PLB) score was constructed for 10 364 men and women (>18 years), and representative of the Republic of Ireland adult population (response rate 62%). Respondents scored a maximum of four points, one point each for being physically active, consuming five or more fruit and vegetable servings daily, a non-smoker and a moderate drinker. Results: One-fifth of respondents (20%) adopted four PLBs, 35% adopted three, 29% two, 13% one and 2% adopted none. Compared to those with zero PLBs, those with four were seven times more likely to rate their general health as excellent/very good [OR 6.8 95% CI (3.64–12.82)] and four times more likely to have better mental health [OR 4.4 95% CI (2.34–8.22)]. Conclusions: Adoption of core protective lifestyle factors known to increase life expectancy is associated with positive self-rated health, healthier weight and better mental health. These lifestyles have the potential to add quality and quantity to life.
Keywords: lifestyle behaviours, self-rated health, obesity, depression, protective factors.