Depending on the statistical method used, estimates on how many
people die from being obese or overweight range from 25,000 to 365,000
a year. And according to a report, only 3 percent of Americans follow
health advice to:
- Keep weight off
- Exercise regularly
- Eat five or more servings of fruit and vegetables a day
- Avoid smoking
But one thing's for sure: People who eat right, exercise and do
not smoke are far less likely to develop heart disease, cancer,
diabetes and other chronic and deadly conditions. So why aren't
more people jumping on the bandwagon?
Using data from the 2000 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System
-- an annual survey of the nation's health -- researchers looked
at surveys completed by some 154,000 adults. And the surveys said:
- Some 76 percent said they didn't smoke
- Only 23 percent incorporated at least five fruits and vegetables
in their daily diets
- Twenty-two percent exercised at least 30 minutes a day, five
or more times a week
- Forty percent maintained a healthy weight, defined as a body
mass index (BMI) of 25 or less
- Only 3 percent met all four goals
Taking Action to Improve America's Health
A senior clinical nutritionist from New York City explained the
dire need for people to be educated on what is healthy and how to
incorporate it into their daily lives.
So, along that vein, several U.S. organizations have been attempting
to improve America's health: The U.S. Agriculture Department, for
example, recently replaced the old food pyramid with a new and improved
one, emphasizing exercise with a figure climbing up stairs. The
Internet-based advisory, MyPyramid,
for the new graphic was designed to tailor nutritional advice to
each individual's needs; however, critics argue the site is difficult
to navigate.
In addition, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
has tried to warn of the consequences of poor eating and a lack
of exercise, but has been hampered by debate over mortality statistics.
So what is the fate of America's health? Only time will tell.
Archives
of Internal Medicine, April 25, 2005;165(8):854-857
MSNBC
April 26, 2005
Forbes.com
April 25, 2005
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