Executive Summary
1994 Mississippi Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System
Note: only responses to questions on general health, health risk behaviors for
chronic disease (including health care access), and screening behaviors are given here
Health status
- 20.7% report that general health is fair or poor
- 9.6% report that physical health was not good for more than 7 days during the past 30
days
- 9.8% report that mental health was not good for more than 7 days during the past 30 days
- 10.1% report that poor physical/mental health prevented usual activities for more than 7
days during the past 30 days
Cigarette smoking
- 22.1% report that they are current cigarette smokers (have ever smoked 100 cigarettes
and now smoke every day or some days)
- 21.3% report that they are former cigarette smokers (have ever smoked 100 cigarettes but
do not smoke now)
- 42.1% of current daily smokers report that they have quit smoking for 1 day or longer
during the past 12 months
Physical activity/exercise
- 38.4% report that they are physically inactive (HP 2000 Obj. 1.5)
- 67.0% report sedentary lifestyle (sedentary or irregular physical activity profile)
- 14.0% report frequent regular exercise (HP 2000 Obj. 1.3)
- 9.8% report regular intensive exercise (HP 2000 Obj. 1.4)
- 45.1% report that they are using physical activity/exercise to lose weight (or keep from
gaining weight)
Diet, body weight, and weight control
- 31.9% of respondents are overweight (BMI >= 27.7 for men, 27.3 for women)
- 18.7% of respondents are obese (BMI >= 30)
- 71.6% report that they are dieting to lose weight (or keep from gaining weight)
- 45.1% report that they are using physical activity/exercise to lose weight (or keep from
gaining weight)
- 36.5% are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes (because of obesity/overweight and lack
of physical activity/exercise)
Diabetes
- Prevalence of self-reported diabetes (told by a doctor): 5.7%
- 36.5% are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes (because of obesity/overweight and lack
of physical activity/exercise)
Fruit and vegetable consumption
- Percent reporting that they eat fruits/vegetables 5 or more times per day: 13.9%
Mammography screening
- 60.8% of women 50-59 years of age have had a screening mammogram within the past year
- 83.8% of women 50-59 years of age have had a screening mammogram within the past two
years
- 63.7% of women 60-69 years of age have had a screening mammogram within the past year
- 79.2% of women 60-69 years of age have had a screening mammogram within the past two
years
Pap smear screening
- 89.2% of women 18-65 years of age have had Pap smear screening within the past three
years
Health care access
- 14.5% report that they have no kind of health care coverage
- 16.6% report that there was a time during the past 12 months that they needed to see a
doctor but could not because of the cost