Just 1 In 7 Adults Eat Right And Exercise

Study: Americans Get Little Exercise, Eat Few Fruits And Veggies

By Todd Zwillich
Reviewed by Louise Chang, M.D.
WebMD
CBS News
Friday, April 6, 2007

(WebMD) As Americans spend billions each year on diet and
exercise habits, it seems only a few are exercising at all,
a new study shows.

The study shows dismal rates of healthy behaviors among
Americans overall, a factor known to contribute to high
rates of obesity and chronic illnesses.

Just one in seven U.S. adults reported regular physical
activity along with consuming five servings of fruits and
vegetables each day. Nearly 17 percent of men who described
themselves as being of mixed ethnicity said they regularly
combined both behaviors, compared with 13 percent of white
men.

Seventeen percent of white women reported both healthy
eating and exercise, compared with 15 percent of Hispanics
and 13 percent of African Americans, according to the
study, conducted by the CDC.

Prevalence of engaging in both behaviors is low among all
racial/ethnic populations, the study concludes.

U.S. dietary guidelines call for adults to get five or more
servings of fresh fruits and vegetables per day. Government
health recommendations also urge at least 30 minutes of
moderate-intensity exercise five days per week or vigorous-
intensity exercise at for least 20 minutes three days per
week.

Moderate-intensity exercise means exercise with some
increase in breathing or heart rate; vigorous-intensity
exercise means a large increase in breathing.

But Thursday's study shows that few adults are meeting the
goals.

"No matter what group, the American public isn't eating
enough fruits and vegetables," says Mary Kay Solera,
director of CDC's fruit and vegetable program and one of
the study's authors.

Solera confirms that the study may overestimate actual
healthy behaviors because it was based on the subjects'
self-reports. Research participants are known to routinely
overestimate good behaviors and underestimate bad ones.

"My gosh, we've got to do more," Solera tells WebMD.

"These are two really good behaviors that when combined
would do great for reducing the risk of chronic diseases.
But how do we get you to do that?" she asks.

More at:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/04/05/health/webmd/main2654699.shtml

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