%0 Journal Article
%T Health behaviors and risk factors in those who use complementary and alternative medicine
%A Richard L Nahin
%A James M Dahlhamer
%A Beth L Taylor
%A Patricia M Barnes
%A Barbara J Stussman
%A Catherine M Simile
%A Marc R Blackman
%A Margaret A Chesney
%A Morgan Jackson
%A Heather Miller
%A Kim K McFann
%J BMC Public Health
%D 2007
%I BioMed Central
%R 10.1186/1471-2458-7-217
%X The current study is a cross-sectional regression analysis using data from the 2002 National Health Interview Survey. Data were collected in-person from 31,044 adults throughout the 50 states and the District of Columbia.After controlling for a range of other factors, we found that engaging in leisure-time physical activity, having consumed alcohol in one's life but not being a current heavy drinker, and being a former smoker are independently associated with the use of CAM. Obese individuals are slightly less likely to use CAM than individuals with a healthy body-mass index. No significant associations were observed between receipt of an influenza vaccine and CAM use.Those engaging in positive health behaviors and exhibiting fewer health risk factors are more likely to use CAM than those who forgo positive health behaviors or exhibit more health risk factors. The fact that users of CAM tend to pursue generally healthy lifestyles suggests that they may be open to additional recommendations toward optimizing their health.Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) comprises a diverse set of healing philosophies, therapies and products. Increasingly, people with chronic health conditions are turning toward CAM for relief [1,2]. Prior national surveys on CAM use in the United States (U.S.) have focused on sociodemographic factors such as gender, region of residence, income, and education [1-3]. These surveys have generally found that individuals more likely to use CAM are female, live in the western U.S., are likely to have a health complaint, and have a higher socioeconomic status than do nonusers. What is not known is the extent to which those who use CAM also engage in positive health behaviors, such as smoking cessation or increased physical activity and/or exhibit fewer health risk factors such as obesity, and whether these behaviors are independent of health status and other factors associated with CAM use. These have been identified as key research questions in
%U http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/7/217