Understanding clustered behavioral risk factors among adults in the United States: A gender-specific analysis of alcohol and other substance use and obesity.

Abstract

Background: Individuals who consume alcohol often use other drugs as well. Little is known about the clustering of heavy and binge drinking with the use of other substances (tobacco, cannabis, illicit drugs, and nonmedical prescription drugs). Overweight/obesity, highly prevalent in the United States (US) and an established health risk factor, may also cluster with them. We aimed to identify patterns of clustering of these behavioral risk factors and demographic and chronic disease profiles of individuals who show each pattern of clustering.

Methods: Latent class analyses and multinomial and logistic regressions were conducted using a nationally representative sample of US adults (Analytic N = 214,505) from the 2015-2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Demographic characteristics (age, race and ethnicity, education, and income) and chronic health conditions associated with each cluster of behavioral risk factors were examined, also adjusting for health insurance coverage and marital status. Analyses were stratified by gender.

Results: Four clusters with similar behavioral risk profiles were identified for both men and women: heavy-drinking-tobacco-some-cannabis-use-obese group, high-substance-use group, obese group, and relatively-healthy-lifestyle group. Additionally, heavy-drinking-tobacco-some-cannabis-use-overweight group and low-drinking-high-other-substance-use group for men and heavy-drinking-tobacco-some-cannabis-use group for women were identified. The high substance use group was more likely to be aged under 35. However, clusters featuring more commonly used substances (alcohol, tobacco, and, to a lesser degree, cannabis) were more likely to be midlife for men and to have higher income for both men and women. Clustered behavioral risk factors were positively associated with being White and having no college degree (with some exceptions) and negatively associated with self-rated health status and chronic conditions (except hypertension) for both sexes.

Conclusions: Clustered multisubstance use and obesity is a problem affecting a significant segment of the US population. Tailored multibehavior interventions are warranted.