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, alcohol use, and heavy alcohol 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 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.