Also... one step forward, one back...

Health Status and Determinants

... In 2002 the overall percent of Americans living in poverty
was 12.1 percent, up from 11.7 percent in 2001 and
11.3 percent in 2000, the first increase in the poverty rate
since 1993. In 2002 more than one-half of black and Hispanic
children under 18 years and more than one-half of the black
and Hispanic population age 65 years and over were either
poor or near poor (figures 4 and 5 and table 2).

Health Behaviors and Risk Factors
Health behaviors and risk factors have a significant effect
on health outcomes. Cigarette smoking increases the risk
of lung cancer, heart disease, emphysema, and other
respiratory diseases. Overweight and obesity increase the
risk of death and disease as well as the severity of
disease. Regular physical activity lessens the risk of
disease and enhances physical functioning. Heavy and
chronic use of alcohol and use of illicit drugs increase the
risk of disease and injuries.

Since 1990 the percent of adults who smoke cigarettes has
declined only slightly. In 2002, 25 percent of men and
20 percent of women were smokers. Cigarette smoking by
adults is strongly associated with educational attainment.
Adults with less than a high school education were three
times as likely to smoke as were those with a bachelor’s
degree or more education in 2002 (figure 12 and tables 60
and 61)...