Most Americans don't eat smart and exercise: CDC
Last Updated Aug 2007
Last Updated: 2007-04-06 10:00:28 -0400 (Reuters Health)
By Will Dunham
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Only one in seven Americans exercises enough and eats enough
fruits and vegetables, and men are worse than women, federal health officials said
on Thursday.
"These results underscore the need to promote diets high in fruits and vegetables
and regular physical activity among all populations in the United States and among
racial and ethnic minority communities in particular," U.S. Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention researchers said in a report.
The CDC tracked the percentage of Americans who eat at least five servings of
fruits and vegetables daily and engage in moderately intense exercise for at least
30 minutes five days per week or vigorous exercise for at least 20 minutes three
days per week as recommended by the government.
Overall, 14.6 percent of Americans met both the dietary and exercise benchmarks,
including 12.4 percent of men and 16.6 percent of women.
The findings come at a time of rising obesity in the United States and concern
among public health experts about sedentary lifestyles and diets loaded with fat
and sweets.
The report found that 12.6 percent of white men and 17.4 percent of white women
reached both benchmarks, compared to 11.2 percent of black men and 12.6 percent of
black women and 11.7 percent of Latino men and 14.8 percent of Latino women.
Among all groups, American Indian and Alaska Native men (17.5 percent) and women
(19.6 percent) did the best.
"The population right now really needs to take responsibility for their own
health," Mary Kay Solera, head of the CDC's National Fruit and Vegetable Program
and one of the report's authors, said in a telephone interview.
'WE'RE NOT DOING IT'
"People know that they need to be eating more fruits and vegetables, and they know
they need to be doing more physical activity. But we're not doing it," Solera added.
Unlike other reports tracking such issues, this one examines those behaviors in
tandem for a more complete view. It did not assess whether things are getting
better or worse.
"Poor diet and lack of physical activity cause chronic disease," Solera said. "As
our good habits decrease, and you've got a lot of bad habits, then chronic disease
is going to increase, health-care costs will increase. There are consequences to
what we're doing."
The CDC noted that being overweight or obese increases one's risk of heart disease,
some cancers, high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke and other ailments.
The report was based on self-reported data from a 2005 telephone survey of 356,112
Americans. The survey asked respondents to report their level of exercise and their
diet with questions such as, "How often do you eat potatoes, not including French
fries, fried potatoes or potato chips?"
The report said some of the racial differences in exercise levels detected might be
due to a lack of exercise facilities in lower-income, nonwhite communities.
Moderately intense exercise was defined as brisk walking, bicycling, vacuuming,
gardening or anything else that causes small increases in breathing or heart rate.
Vigorous exercise was defined as running, aerobics, heavy yard work or other things
that cause large increases in breathing or heart rate.
Dr. Sears Comment
This report correlates with new studies that indicate aging Americans (60-65) are
less healthy than they were in previous 40 years. Everyone who isn't taking
responsibility for their health is hoping that Medicare will rescue them with
basically free health care.