Behavioral risk factors for disease and preventive health practices among lesbians

Objectives. This study compared the prevalence of health behaviors among lesbians and in the general population of women. Methods. We used a cross-sectional community-based survey of 1010 self-identified lesbians 18 years or older. Results. Compared with the general population of women, lesbians were more likely to report cigarette use, alchol use, and heavy alchol use. A higher percentage of lesbians were categorized as overweight, and lesbians were more likely to participate in vigorous physical activity. They were less likely to report ever having had a Papanicolaou test within the past 2 years but more likely to report ever having had a mammogram. Conclusions. While there may be differences in health behaviors between lesbians and the general population of women, how these differences influence the risk of subsequent disease is unknown.