Worksheet HEALTH STATUS TEST - either copy what is below or download the PDF document.
Worksheet No.5 HEALTH STATUS TEST
How do you measure up? On the following health habit checklist, give yourself one point for each health habit you practice.
1. Smoking ( ) I do not smoke.
2. Alcohol ( ) I seldom or never have more than four alcoholic drinks at a time.
3. Exercise ( ) I take long walks or engage in sports, swimming, gardening or other
physical activity at least 3 times a week.
4. Weight Control ( ) I weigh less than 20% above my desired weight. (Ask about overweight table.)
5. Breakfast ( ) I eat a substantial breakfast every day or almost every day.
6. Snacking (…) I seldom or never eat between meals.
7. Rest ( ) I regularly have seven or eight hours of sleep.
TOTAL OF HEALTH HABITS PRACTICED: _______________
Determine your health status by matching your age and the number of habits practiced. Example below.
HEALTH STATUS AGES FOR MEN AND WOMEN
AGE O-2 HABITS 3 HABITS / 4 HABITS / 5 HABITS / 6 HABITS / 7 HABITS
20-24 + 14.3 + 7.4 + 0.5 - 1.1 -4.2 - 9.4
25-29 + 15.6 + 3.3 + 1.8 - 0.9 -4.5 - 10.2
30-34 + 16.9 + 9.1 + 3.0 - 0.6 -4.7 - 11.1
35-39 + 18.2 + 9.9 + 4.2 - 0.4 -5.0 - 12.0
40-44 + 19.4 + 10.7 + 5.3 - 0.1 -5.2 - 12.9
45-49 + 20.7 + 11.6 + 6.7 + 0.1 -5.5 - 13.8
50-54 + 22.0 + 12.4 + 7.9 + 0.3 -5.7 - 14.7
55-59 + 23.3 + 13.2 + 9.0 + 0.6 -6.0 - 15.5
60-64 + 24.5 + 14.0 + 10.4 + 0.8 -6.2 - 16.4
65-69 + 25.8 + 14.8 + 11.6 + 1.1 -6.5 - 17.3
70-74 + 27.1 + 15.7 + 12.8 + 1.3 -6.8 - 18.2
A 45-year-old person practicing only 4 habits will add 6.7 years to their age. This means that their health status is that of a 51.7-year-old person. Read on for an explanation.
HEALTHFUL HABITS
Many think that health is the result of chance or accident, but a number of studies have shown that health risks are related to personal health habits.
A 9-year study of 7,000 adult residents of Alameda County, California, was begun in 1965, showed that 7 health practices were closely related to both death rate and health status. 45-year-old men observing 6 or 7 of these health practices could expect to live 7 years longer than men the same age with fewer than 4 health practices. 45-year-old women with 6 or 7 health practices could expect to live 7 years longer than women the same age with fewer than 4 health practices. Even more astounding, 45-year-old men or women with all 7 health habits could expect the health status - general health and feeling of well-being - of teenagers practicing only 2 habits or less.
Belloc. N.B- and Breslow, L, Relationship of Health Status and Health Practices. Preventive Medicine 1, 409-421 (1972).
Additional health habits we recommend are using seat belts whenever traveling in a car and wearing a helmet when riding a bicycle or motorcycle. These practices greatly reduce the risk of fatality in the event of an accident.
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