Relations of Health Practices and Serum Lipids among Farmers and Non-Farmars in Japan, 1982-1986 / 日本農村医学会雑誌

ABSTRACT

An investigation was made of the health conditions of the adult residents (age 20-74) in an agricultural district of northern Kyushu, through a questionnaire and health examination. A total of 639 individuals responded to our investigation. Health-related habits such as alcohol drinking, cigarette smoking and exercise, the degree of obesity, and their relations with serum total cholesterol (TC) and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) were studied.<BR>The levels of TC and HDL and lifestyles in this district were not particularly different from those in other districts of the nation. Numbers of heavy drinkers and heavy smokers were found larger in farmers than in non-farmers. Farmers got less exercise than non-farmers. Worthy of note is the fact that obesity prevalence was higher among males than females in both farmer and non-farmer groups. Mean TC levels were slightly lower and HDL levels were slightly higer in farmers than in non-farmers.<BR>Four years after the investigation, a follow-up survey was made. Age-adjusted mean TC levels had been up by 15-17 mg/dl (p<0.01), but HDL was almost at the same level (only 1 mg/dl increase) both in farmers and non-farmers. Covariance analysis was made to assess the relations of each health-related habit and obesity with TC and HDL. The results showed obesity was positively correlated with increased levels of TC, while alcohol consumption, cigarette smoking and exercise had little bearing on TC levels. The relations with HDL levels were weakly positive for alcohol consumption, and weakly negative for both cigarette smoking and obesity. No definite association was observed between exercise and HDL levels.<BR>These findings suggest that there is no significant difference between farmers and non-farmers with respect to health practices and serum lipids. This also suggests that once wide differences in lifestyle between the two groups have disappeared.