Fewer People Living Healthy Lifestyle
Number of People Following Healthy Living Guidelines is Declining
May 29, 2009
The study, published in the June issue of The American Journal of Medicine, examined the results of two large studies: one from 1988 to 1994, and the other from 2001 to 2006. In the years between the studies, the percentage of adults aged 40 to 74 who are obese, which means having a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or more, has increased from 28 percent to 36 percent.
Also, the percentage of people who are physically active 12 times a month or more has decreased from 53 percent to 43 percent. Those who eat five or more fruits and vegetables a day has decreased from 42 percent to 26 percent, and moderate alcohol use has increased from 40 percent to 51 percent.
The only statistic that has not changed is smoking rates (26.9 percent to 26.1 percent). The number of people who have adopted all five healthy habits has decreased from 15 percent to eight percent. Following all of these guidelines is linked to lower risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and obesity.
People with these conditions were included in the study, and, alarmingly, researchers found that those with any of these health issues were no more likely to lead a healthy lifestyle than those without.
Here are some tips to help you incorporate these habits into your lifestyle.
- Have juice with breakfast for an easy serving of fruit. To make sure you don't take in too many calories, limit your serving size to ½ cup (125 mL).
- Have a salad or vegetable soup before lunch and dinner for at least two extra servings of vegetables.
- If you drink alcohol, to reduce your consumption, try light versions of beer, half-shots of liquor in your mixed drinks, or mix wine with club soda for a refreshing spritzer.
- See your doctor about trying to quit smoking. There is no need to do it cold turkey. There are plenty of options, from gum to patches to hypnosis, that can make it easier.
- Begin exercising by going for a walk during your lunch break or in the evening. Incorporate more exercise into what you do every day by taking the stairs, parking at the back of the parking lot, or getting off the bus or subway one stop early and walking the rest of the way.
By adopting some of these habits, you can reduce your risk of getting several diseases, control your weight and have more energy from day to day. Reversing the decline of these habits in the population is critical for everyone's health.
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