Introduction:
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the primary cause of death among individuals living in the United States. Adherence to heart-healthy diets and exercise reduce risk of CVD. However, a contemporary analysis of specific diet and exercise types adhered to by Americans is lacking. Therefore, the primary objective of this study was to characterize methods by which Americans engage in healthy lifestyle habits.
Methods:
Internet-based materials were collected through an exhaustive search, conducted between 6/1/2019 and 4/30/20. Google, Google Scholar and Pubmed search engines were reviewed to identify relevant articles. Articles were reviewed by the senior author who made the final decision on incorporation into this analysis. 26 and 23 articles on diet and exercise, respectively, were included for analysis.
Results:
Only approximately 20-25% of Americans engage in routine physical activity. Of individuals who do exercise, the majority engage in either low dynamic/low static, high dynamic/low static, or low dynamic/high static types of exercise (
figure 1
). Americans grossly underconsume recommended healthy foodtypes such as vegetables, fruits and dairy products, by 85%, 75% and 85%, respectively, based on recommended daily allowance. Of individuals who follow a specific diet, the most common types were low-carbohydrate (18%), reduced caloric (14%), and ketogenic (11%).
Conclusion:
In a contemporary analysis of American lifestyle habits, adherence to healthy diet and exercise patterns is unacceptably low. Among individuals who do adhere to healthy habits, there is a heterogeneous admixture of diet and exercise types.
Patient-Related Diet and Exercise Counseling: Do Providers’ Own Lifestyle Habits Matter?
