Executive Summary
1991 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
Cigarette smoking
- 24.4% report that they are current cigarette smokers (have ever smoked 100 cigarettes
and now smoke every day or some days)
- 19.8% report that they are former cigarette smokers (have ever smoked 100 cigarettes but
do not smoke now)
- 54.3% of current daily smokers report that they have quit smoking for 1 day or longer
during the past 12 months
Physical activity/exercise
- 42.6% report that they are physically inactive (HP 2000 Obj. 1.5)
- 67.3% report sedentary lifestyle (sedentary or irregular physical activity profile)
- 5.2% report regular intensive exercise (HP 2000 Obj. 1.4)
- 50.6% report that they are using physical activity/exercise to lose weight
Diet, body weight, and weight control
- 27.8% of respondents are overweight (BMI >= 27.7 for men, 27.3 for women)
- 15.2% of respondents are obese (BMI >= 30)
- 83.5% report that they are eating fewer calories to lose weight
- 50.6% report that they are using physical activityexercise to lose weight
- 32.7% 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): 7.0%
- 32.7% are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes (because of obesity/overweight and lack
of physical activity/exercise)
Hypertension awareness
- 29.8% of respondents report that they have been told by a health professional that they
have high blood pressure
- 92.2% have had their blood pressure taken by a health professional within the past year
- 96.1% have had their blood pressure taken by a health professional within the past 2
years
- 97.6% have had their blood pressure taken by a health professional within the past 5
years
Cholesterol awareness
- 58.1% of respondents have ever had a blood cholesterol check
- 80.6% have had their blood cholesterol checked within the past year
- 93.2% have had their blood cholesterol checked within the past 2 years
- 98.0% have had their blood cholesterol checked within the past 5 years
- 25.4% of those tested report that they have been told by a health professional that they
have high blood cholesterol
Fruit and vegetable consumption
- Percent reporting that they eat fruits/vegetables 5 or more times per day: 9.1%
Mammography screening
- 63.8% of women 50-59 years of age have had a screening mammogram within the past year
- 80.3% of women 50-59 years of age have had a screening mammogram within the past two
years
- 68.9% of women 60-69 years of age have had a screening mammogram within the past year
- 86.2% of women 60-69 years of age have had a screening mammogram within the past two
years
Pap smear screening
- 90.5% of women 18-65 years of age have had Pap smear screening within the past three
years
Health care access
- 20.4% report that they have no kind of health care coverage
- 17.1% 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