Modifiable cardiac risk factors of obesity, inactivity, and stress: a community survey.

In this descriptive study the perceptions and practices of community residents concerning three risk factors associated with coronary heart disease (obesity, inactivity, and stress) and their prevalence were assessed. One thousand questionnaires were randomly mailed to residents of Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada with a response rate of 48.1%. The results suggest that all three risk factors under study could be contributing to the significantly higher mortality rates in Thunder Bay due to coronary heart disease (when compared to provincial norms). Programs should be developed in the community under study to promote awareness of cardiac risk factors and strategies developed to reduce these risk factors.