White MC, et al. – This research sought to estimate the current prevalence of several cancer risk factors among young adults. The intent was to analyze opportunities to intervene for bringing about a difference in the prevalence of these risk factors and potentially reduce cancer incidence. The yielded results could be useful for targeting evidence–based environmental and policy interventions. This would reduce the prevalence of cancer risk factors among young adults and prevent the development of prospective cancers.

Methods

• The 2015 National Health Interview Survey data (analyzed in 2016) estimated the prevalence of potential cancer risk factors, among U.S. adults aged 18-44 years.
• The findings were based on responses to questions about diet, physical activity, tobacco product use, alcohol, indoor tanning, sleep, human papillomavirus vaccine receipt, and obesity, stratified by sex, age, and race/ethnicity.

Results

• A variation was noted in the prevalence of some risk factors, by age and race/ethnicity.
• Obesity (one in four people) and insufficient sleep (one in three people) were common among men and women.
• Physical inactivity (one in five men, one in four women); binge drinking (one in four men, one in eight women); cigarette smoking (one in five men, one in seven women); and frequent consumption of red meat (one in four men, one in six women) were also reported to be common.
• More than half of the population of adults aged 18-44 years consumed sugar-sweetened beverages daily and processed meat at least once a week.
• It was found that maximum young adults had never had the human papillomavirus vaccine.