Roughly two-thirds of Americans report that they put a great deal or quite a bit of effort into trying to maintain or improve their own health, according to a recent survey.
Highlighted below are additional findings from the survey regarding American's current exercise and dieting habits.
- Nearly one-third (32 percent) say they do not put much effort in staying healthy.
- Out of a list of 20 things that might help maintain or improve health, the Americans polled say they are doing the following five things most:
- Frequently eating healthy fruits and vegetables — 87 percent
- Actively trying to reduce stress — 83 percent
- Limiting the amount of fast food they eat — 82 percent
- Limiting the amount of alcohol they consume — 79 percent
- Limiting the amount of sugar-sweetened soda and sports drinks they consume — 79 percent
- Nearly 30 percent of Americans report that they exercise or participate in vigorous physical activity every day. Forty-five percent say they exercise a few times a week, and about 26 percent report that they exercise or do vigorous physical activities a few times a month or less.
- Sixteen percent of the respondents say they are currently on a diet to lose weight, including 10 percent on a low-fat diet and 8 percent on a low-carbohydrate diet.
- Approximately one-third (34 percent) of Americans report they've been told by a health professional to take steps to maintain or improve their health and 28 percent have been told to do so by family members.
- Nearly half (46 percent) of Americans who describe themselves as being overweight and 42 percent of current smokers report that they've been told by a health professional to take steps to maintain or improve their health.
The survey was conducted by NPR, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston via telephone between Sept. 15 and Oct. 15, 2014 and includes a nationally representative sample of more than 2,400 respondents age 18 and older.
Research members from all three institutions analyzed the responses to a poll developed by researchers at the Harvard Opinion Research Program at the T.H. Chan School of Public Health.