The Chief Scientist reports... Behavioural risk factors for coronary heart disease and cancers among adults in Edinburgh and Glasgow: assessing change 1988-1995.

OBJECTIVE

To assess change over time in selected behavioural risk factors for coronary heart disease and cancers and to assess progress towards government-defined health targets.

DESIGN

Computer assisted telephone interview survey, randomly selected sample.

SETTING

Edinburgh and Glasgow.

SUBJECTS

34,247 aged 18-60 years; 43.2% male and 56.8% female.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Changes in cigarette smoking, diet, alcohol use and exercise among adults between 1988 and 1995.

RESULTS

A majority of the variables under study showed significant change over the time period under review. On the positive side, the percentage of female smokers decreased significantly, whilst the number of female ex-smokers increased; the use of salt and butter declined significantly for men, and butter use declined significantly for women; and increasing numbers of men ate fruit in the last 24 hours and daily. On the negative side, there was no significant decrease in smoking prevalence among men; no significant increase in reported participation in physical activity for exercise for men or women, and a significant decrease in frequency of exercise for women; and the frequency of "drinking heavily on occasion' increased for both men and women.

CONCLUSIONS

Significant positive changes in key health behaviours have taken place among adults resident in Edinburgh and Glasgow since 1988, particularly in relation to smoking among women and diet among men, but progress is slow and patchy.