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Good Overall Health = Exercise + Healthy Diet(Link)
We know that exercise is important to remaining healthy, and it seems as though Americans were trying more and more to get daily exercise in order to boost their overall health and, consequently, their quality of life. Somewhere in the thrust to get more exercise, the government recommended finding ways to eat healthier as well. Read the nutrition labels, eat less fat and red meat; cut out trans fat altogether; eat more fish. Americans answered the call to eat healthier, but somewhere along the line, regular exercise was tossed asunder.
An October 2006 study of 1,072 adults, commissioned by Cooking Light, lends credence to the trend of Americans’ healthy eating habits being on the rise, while regular exercise begins to decline.
Overall, the study found that nearly half (47%) of Americans are satisfied with their physical fitness, yet only 6 percent get 30 minutes, the amount recommended by the USDA, of exercise each day. A majority of those who responded (54%) struggle to exercise regularly in 2006, versus 33% in 2003 – the year of the last study.
In comparison to 2003 results, use of simple techniques to get in a little exercise has been declining, for example:
| |
2003 Respondents |
2006 Respondents |
Δ |
| Walk or bike rather than take transportation |
39% |
19% |
-20% |
| Regularly use stairs rather than an elevator |
49 |
41 |
-8 |
| Regularly park farther in order to get extra exercise through walking |
32 |
33 |
+1 |
On the other hand, when it comes to diet, 70 percent believe they understand about personal nutrition and health to make informed, healthy eating and dietary decisions. Plus, many have traded in bad eating habits for more healthy alternatives. In comparison to 2003:
| |
2003 Respondents |
2006 Respondents |
Δ |
| Substituting low-fat milk rather than whole milk |
52% |
70% |
-18% |
| Eating chicken without the skin |
41 |
59 |
+18 |
| Regularly take vitamins |
37 |
54 |
+17 |
| Regularly use low-fat alternatives when cooking |
44 |
52 |
+8 |
Today, Americans are much more likely to feel that they can balance healthy eating without having to sacrifice their favorite foods. This belief is up 20 percent from the 2003 study result of 28%.
Still, around 40 percent or fewer Americans feel that they fully understand the role of different ingredients (both beneficial and negative roles) when it comes to eating healthier. While we are pretty good at choosing foods based on fat content and type of fat, there are several other important factors that receive little to know consideration – factors like whether a food is natural or organic, rich in antioxidants, contains whole grains or is rich in soy content.
Further analysis of the results seems to lead to Americans seeking to find favor in their response set. 89 percent indicated that they knew what it takes to lead a healthy lifestyle, but their overall health IQ seems to indicate that this is more fiction than actual reality. When asked 15 questions about healthy living, most respondents failed – mostly due to questions on exercise and physical fitness being answered incorrectly.
Only 15% scored a grade letter ‘C’ or better, with 30 percent receiving a ‘D’ grade and the rest (52%) failing.
These results tend to support the theory that many Americans fail to realize that a healthy lifestyle is a 2-part equation – exercise and proper diet.
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