In a study of over 14,000 high school students, reported in September 2000, it was found that teens, both boys and girls, who were members of sports teams were less apt to engage in a number of unhealthy activities. For example, the athletes were less likely to

(a) use drugs,

(b) smoke,

(c) carry weapons,

(d) have unhealthy eating habits, and

(e) have sex. The authors implied that the image of the clean-cut jock may be more than just a Hollywood stereotype. They concluded that because of the positive relationship between sports participation and positive health behaviors, physicians should actively encourage young people to take advantage of the opportunity to join sports teams (Pate et al., 2000). Comment on the implied causal relationship between athletics and healthy behaviors.