With the pandemic in its third year and the ever-increasing number of cases and hospitalizations, fresh data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that we already have a long history of health care failures. Reminds me.
The latest data from decades of health surveys show that the majority of Americans have a poor diet and many of us are inactive. Specifically, according to a recent response to the CDC survey and behavioral risk factor monitoring system, only 10% of Americans eat enough vegetables and only 12% eat enough fruits. Recent responses also show that 25% of Americans do not exercise outside of work.
The CDC states that both poor diet and inactivity can afflict people with conditions such as weakened immune system, obesity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and certain cancers.
“Following a dietary pattern that includes enough fruits and vegetables helps protect against some chronic conditions that are one of the leading causes of death in the United States,” the CDC reports recent dietary findings. The study concluded. “Some of these symptoms are also associated with more serious illnesses due to COVID-19.”
Meanwhile, in another release of inactivity data, Dr. Ruth Petersen, director of the CDC’s nutrition, physical activity, and obesity departments, talked about the importance of exercise. “With enough exercise, you can prevent 1 in 10 people from premature death,” she said. “Too many people miss the health benefits of physical activity, such as improved sleep, reduced blood pressure and anxiety, heart disease, some cancers, and a reduced risk of dementia (including Alzheimer’s disease). “
The latest dietary data came from about 300,000 US participants who responded to the survey in 2019 before the pandemic hit the United States. The data asked people about their diet and estimated how they estimated it in comparison to the recommendations given in the government’s dietary guidelines for Americans from 2020 to 2025. In general, the guidance recommends that adults eat 2-4 cups of vegetables and 1.5-2.5 cups of fruit per day.
Overall, respondents reported eating fruits at a median only once a day and vegetables at a median 1.6 times a day. CDC researchers used previously established algorithms and food recall reports to estimate whether people reached the recommended amount based on how often they ate fruits and vegetables each day.
Breakdown of health
Estimates suggest that only 10% of adults meet the vegetable recommendations, ranging from 5.6% for Kentucky residents and 16% for Vermont residents. From 8.4% in West Virginia to 16.1% in Connecticut, only 12.3% met the fruit recommendations. The overall findings were similar to the 2017 findings.
In addition to the geographical differences, there were demographic differences. Females were more likely than men to meet fruit and vegetable recommendations. People over the age of 51 were more likely to get vegetables than young adults. Hispanic adults were more likely to eat enough fruit than non-Hispanic white adults. Non-Hispanic black adults in California, Massachusetts, and Nevada were less likely to consume sufficient vegetables than non-Hispanic white adults. Overall, people in the highest-income category were more likely to meet the vegetable recommendations.
Investigations are limited and may rely on self-reported dietary data and algorithms to assess servings. However, CDC researchers speculate that the pandemic may have only worsened estimates of already disastrous fruit and vegetable intake. Supply chain issues and financial constraints can make produce more difficult to obtain. Pandemic stress can also easily postpone a healthy diet plan.
The pandemic could also disrupt people’s movements, closing the gym and disrupting work and day care schedules. According to recent survey results, 25% of people did not do any exercise other than work. There were geographical and demographic differences as well as fruit and vegetable intake data. By region, the South was the least active. More than 30% of adults report inactivity in seven states: Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and West Virginia. Colorado is the most active state, with only about 18 percent of adults saying they are inactive.
In all states and territories, Hispanic adults have the highest prevalence of lack of exercise, 32% say they did not exercise outside of work, and non-Hispanic Asian adults have the lowest prevalence, only 20%. I was lacking in exercise.
According to the Government’s Guidelines for Physical Activity for Americans, adults should have at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity exercise (such as active walking or leaf scraping) or 75 minutes of intense aerobic exercise (such as jogging, snow scraping, or intense exercise). You need to do. Exercise class) per week.
