Objective To describe the risk and protection factors for non-communicable diseases with data from Surveillance System through telephone interviews (Vigitel) in 2009.

Methodology The prevalence of main risk and protection factors were estimated in adults (≥18 years old), by telephone interviews in a probabilistic samples of population covered by landline telephones in Brazilian state capitals and federal district, stratified by sex, age and level of education.

Results Data from 54 367 adults were collected. Risk factors like smoking, overweight, soft drinks and fat meat consumption and alcohol abuse were more prevalent in men, young adults and people with lower education level. Men were more active in leisure time and consume more beans than women. Poor self-rated health and self reported diagnosis of hypertension and dyslipidemia, however, were more prevalent in women. Vigitel 2009 results reinforce the trend in decrease of smoking and increase in overweight in Brazil.

Conclusion Telephone surveys are useful to provide timely information with less cost, making it an important tool to assess risk and protection factors for chronic diseases and health promotion actions.