Cardiovascular disease risk factors and health behaviors of ultra-Orthodox Jewish women in Israel: a comparison study.

Objectives. Women from low socio-economic, culturally insular populations are at increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). The ultra-Orthodox Jewish (UOJ) community in Israel is a rapidly growing low socio-economic, insular, cultural-ethnic minority with numerous obstacles to health. The current cross-sectional study investigates CVD-related health behaviors and risk factors in a sample of UOJ females, comparing sample characteristics with the general population. Design. Self-administered questionnaires completed by a cluster randomized sample of 239 UOJ women included demographics, CVD-related health behaviors (consumption of fruit, vegetables, and sweetened beverages; hours of sleep; secondhand smoke exposure; and physical activity engagement) and risk factors (BMI, reported diagnoses of diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease). Results. Compared with the general population, UOJ women were less likely to consume 5 fruits and vegetables a day (12.7% vs. 24.3%, p<.001); more likely to consume ≥ 5 cups of sweetened beverages a week (18.6% vs. 12.6%, p...