Most Americans Live Unhealthy Lives, Study SaysFebruary 26, 2004
Research Summary
A survey released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC's) National Center for Health Statistics shows that the majority of Americans continue to lead unhealthy lifestyles by smoking, drinking, and eating poorly, the Associated Press reported Feb. 26.According to the study, nearly one in five U.S. adults smokes daily, and one in five consume at least five alcoholic drinks in a day at least once per year.
"It's almost as if the elements are conspiring against us to lead unhealthy lifestyles," said Dan Blumenthal, chairman of community health and preventive medicine at Morehouse School of Medicine. "We are faced with a constant barrage of advertising on television about fast food. We live in a world where we are encouraged to drive more and walk less and spend more time in front of our televisions."
The National Health Interview Survey gathered data from 1999-2001 on the health behavior of 96,000 adults aged 18 and older.
The report found that Asian adults are less likely to smoke, while black men are more likely than white men to be smokers. On the other hand, white women are more likely to smoke than black women.
The study also showed that more than 40 percent of smokers tried to quit in the past year.
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