As they have become inherently ingrained in our society and societies worldwide, the noxious disparities in health-risk behaviors and health require far-reaching investigation, supporting greater uniformity across groups. The deep-seated nature of discrimination, stigmatization, and marginalization in our social structure means that the human rights and health of too many individuals suffer, while social injustice and inequity persist.

Health and illness are linked to social structure by the lack of health information and access and health-risk behaviors, such as use of tobacco, alcohol, and other substances; lack of adequate physical exercise; and obesity. The after-effects of health-risk behavior are also found in the perpetration of violent and other criminal behaviors.

The reprint of this Special Issue, titled "Disparities in Health-Risk Behaviors and Health", is a comprehensive collection of novel papers that identifies and discusses the (1) social determinants of disparities in health-risk behaviors and health, (2) social mechanisms responsible for these persistent disparities, and (3) policies and practices recommended for reducing disparities. These papers were grounded firmly in the understanding that gender, racial/ethnic, immigration, LGBT, and socioeconomic statuses contribute to an individual's health status.

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