Table 1

Characteristics of the study sample by drinking status- the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1988–1994
Variables
 Non-Drinkers
 Ex-Drinkers
 Current Drinkers

(n = 2539) %a
 (n = 2755) %a
 (n = 2942) %a
All
 24.1
 30.0
 45.9
Gender


     Female
 30.9
 33.8
 35.4
     Male
 13.6
 23.9
 62.5
Age


     18–29
 24.2
 21.3
 54.5
     30–39
 14.0
 27.5
 58.6
     40–49
 22.2
 32.1
 45.7
     50–59
 26.1
 34.2
 39.7
     60–69
 27.9
 38.0
 34.1
     70+
 41.3
 42.2
 16.5
Race/Ethnicity


     Non-Hispanic White
 19.9
 29.7
 50.4
     Non-Hispanic Black
 31.7
 35.0
 33.3
     Hispanic
 28.8
 29.6
 41.6
     Other Race/Ethnicity
 59.2
 19.6
 21.2
Poverty Income Ratio


     Above Poverty
 22.5
 29.8
 47.7
     Below Poverty
 37.5
 30.7
 31.8
Education


     High School or more
 19.5
 29.2
 51.3
     Less than High School
 41.0
 32.6
 26.5
Marital Status


     Married/Living as Married
 22.5
 32.0
 45.5
     Widowed/Divorced/Separated
 28.0
 38.2
 33.8
     Never Married
 25.4
 19.4
 55.2
Location


     Rural
 29.1
 32.3
 38.6
     Urban
 19.6
 27.7
 52.7
Health


     Excellent/Very Good/ Good
 22.1
 28.3
 49.6
     Fair/Poor
 37.3
 39.7
 23.0
Leisure Time Physical Activityb


     First Quartile (none)
 40.2
 34.2
 25.6
     Second Quartile (1–9)
 24.7
 32.5
 42.8
     Third Quartile (10–30)
 19.4
 30.2
 50.4
     Fourth Quartile (>30)
 19.2
 24.2
 56.5
Body Mass Indexc


     Normal Weight
 23.5
 25.8
 50.7
     Overweight
 22.1
 31.3
 46.6
     Obese
 28.4
 36.6
 35.0

a Weighted percent

b Nine leisure time physical activities (walking, jogging/running, bicycle, swimming, aerobics, other dancing, calisthenics/exercises, garden/yard work, weight lift) were summed and categorized into four quartiles.

c Normal Weight (BMI <25 kg-m2), Overweight (25 kg-m2<BMI< 30 kg-m2), Obese (BMI ≥ 30 kg-m2)

Arif and Rohrer BMC Public Health 2005 5:126   doi:10.1186/1471-2458-5-126