Healthy Habits in Decline
Bad habits are asserting themselves:
Over the last 20 years, the share of Americans 40 to 74 who eat five fruits and vegetables a day has dropped to 26 percent from 42 percent….. The obesity rate increased to 36 percent from 28 percent. And 43 percent of Americans said they worked out at least 30 minutes three times a week, down from just over half.
Sad news.
Tangentially, I just realized that the calorie figures on package labels only add up if non-nutritive fiber is counted as a digestible carbohydrate. This only makes sense if you’re planning on feeding your veggies to the family cow.
Perhaps if labels showed “available calories” instead of calorimeter figures, some people would allow themselves to eat more high-fiber foods.
A good argument that supports preventative health care and education.