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Cited by 237Cardiovascular Health and Risk FactorsHealth and Lifestyle StudiesNutritional Studies and Diet

Ten Years of Life: Is It a Matter of Choice?

Fraser, Gary E., Shavlik, David J.·2001·Archives of Internal Medicine
DOI 10.1001/archinte.161.13.1645
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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Relative risk estimates suggest that effective implementation of behaviors commonly advocated in preventive medicine should increase life expectancy, although there is little direct evidence. OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that choices regarding diet, exercise, and smoking influence life expectancy. METHODS: A total of 34 192 California Seventh-Day Adventists (75% of those eligible) were enrolled in a cohort and followed up from 1976 to 1988. A mailed questionnaire provided dietary and other exposure information at study baseline. Mortality for all subjects was ascertained by matching to state death tapes and the National Death Index. RESULTS: California Adventists have higher life expectancies at the age of 30 years than other white Californians by 7.28 years (95% confidence interval, 6.59-7.97 years) in men and by 4.42 years (95% confidence interval, 3.96-4.88 years) in women, giving them perhaps the highest life expectancy of any formally described population. Commonly observed combinations of diet, exercise, body mass index, past smoking habits, and hormone replacement therapy (in women) can account for differences of up to 10 years of life expectancy among Adventists. A comparison of life expectancy when these factors take high-risk compared with low-risk values shows independent effects that vary between 1.06 and 2.74 years for different variables. The effect of each variable is assessed with all others at either medium- or high-risk levels. CONCLUSIONS: Choices regarding diet, exercise, cigarette smoking, body weight, and hormone replacement therapy, in combination, appear to change life expectancy by many years. The longevity experience of Adventists probably demonstrates the beneficial effects of more optimal behaviors.

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  • In California Adventists, healthy behaviors added several years-up to a decade-to life expectancy.

    “Healthy behavioral choices in Californian Adventists extend life expectancy by several years, even as much as a decade, (190).”

    From Lack of Exercise Is a Major Cause of Chronic Diseases (2012) · cites this paper as [190]

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Authors
Fraser, G. E., & Shavlik, D. J.
Affiliations
Loma Linda University (US)
ORCID
Venue
Archives of Internal Medicine
Publisher
American Medical Association (AMA)
Published
2001-07-09
Volume
161
Issue
13
Pages
1645
ISSN
0003-9926 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1001/archinte.161.13.1645
OpenAlex
W1987396815
Cited by
237
References
45
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 12 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 15 · 2015: 13 · 2014: 11 · 2013: 12 · 2012: 19
FWCI
6.12
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Archives of Internal Medicine (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health (1f33ca066287-01a1x1)
  • National Institute on Aging (R01AG008961, R01-AG08961)
  • National Cancer Institute (1F33CA66287)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Cardiovascular Health and Risk Factors
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Health and Lifestyle Studies
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Nutritional Studies and Diet
Keywords
life expectancy, Seventh-day Adventists, diet, physical activity, cigarette smoking, body mass index, hormone replacement therapy, mortality, lifestyle habits, longevity, preventive medicine
MeSH terms
Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, California, Christianity, Diet, Female, Humans, Life Expectancy, Life Style, Male, Middle Aged, Mortality, Surveys and Questionnaires, Risk, Exercise, Life Tables

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