Behaviors

Among women of reproductive age, fruit and vegetable intake decreased and the percentage of physically inactive women declined. The long-term successes in reducing smoking and teen birth rates have continued.

Diets high in fruits and vegetables reduce the risk

of many chronic diseases such as Type 2 diabetes, obesity, heart disease and stroke

. Consuming fruits and vegetables three or more times daily is associated with a lower overall mortality risk

.

• 4.4 times higher in Vermont (16.8%) than Mississippi (3.8%). Higher among women ages 35-44 (10.7%) than women ages 18-24 (8.1%) and higher among women with an income of $75,000 or more (11.7%) than women with an income of $50,000-$74,999 (8.8%).

Physical inactivity, or a sedentary lifestyle, can increase the risk of several health consequences such as cardiovascular disease

, hypertension, cancer

, obesity, diabetes

and premature death

.

• 3.6 times higher among women with less than a high school education (41.0%) than college graduates (11.4%).
• 3.0 times higher among women with an annual income less than $25,000 (34.9%) than women with an income of $75,000 or more (11.6%).
• 2.0 times higher in Mississippi (27.4%) than Vermont (13.6%).
• 1.9 times higher among Hispanic (29.5%) than white (15.7%) women
• Higher among women ages 35-44 (22.2%) than women ages 18-24 (19.5%).

Despite large declines in smoking among women of reproductive age, the 12.1% prevalence is still nearly double Healthy People 2030’s goal to reduce current smoking among adults to 6.1%.

Smoking cigarettes is the leading cause of preventable death

in the U.S. It is responsible for more than 480,000 American deaths yearly, including nearly 201,800 women

.

Significant changes over time. Nationally, the percentage of women ages 18-44 who reported smoking at least 100 cigarettes in their lifetime and currently smoke daily or some days decreased 15% from 14.3% to 12.1% between 2018-2019 and 2020-2021, exceeding the decrease in last year’s report. Despite this progress, the current prevalence remains higher than the Healthy People 2030 target

of 6.1%. The prevalence of smoking decreased in six states, led by 32% in Maryland

(11.6% to 7.9%) and 31% in both Delaware (17.8% to 12.2%) and Oregon (16.6% to 11.5%). The prevalence decreased among some age, educational attainment and one racial/ethnic group. By group the largest decreases were 34% among women ages 18-24 (9.2% to 6.1%), 19% among college graduates (5.9% to 4.8%) and 14% among white women (18.0% to 15.4%).

• 7.7 times higher among American Indian/Alaska Native (25.3%) than Asian (3.3%) women.
• 4.7 times higher among women with less than a high school education (22.5%) than college graduates (4.8%).
• 4.4 times higher in West Virginia (26.2%) than California (5.9%).
• 3.5 times higher among women with an annual income less than $25,000 (24.0%) than women with an income of $75,000 or more (6.9%).
• 2.5 times higher among women ages 35-44 (15.4%) than women ages 18-24 (6.1%).
• 1.9 times higher among women living in non-metropolitan (20.2%) areas than metropolitan (10.9%) areas.

Substantial social, economic and health costs

are associated with teen pregnancy and childrearing. Teen mothers are more likely

to drop out of high school and experience unemployment.

• 14.1 times higher among American Indian/Alaska Native (23.9 births per 1,000 females ages 15-19) than Asian (1.7) teens.
• 4.9 times higher in Arkansas (26.5) than New Hampshire (5.4).