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Ever wonder why we can’t just get all our nutrients from the foods we eat?
Unfortunately, the typical American diet is known for its excess sugars, saturated fat and sodium, while having a deficiency in the recommended fruits, vegetables, dairy and healthy oils (1). It’s referred to by dieticians and nutritionists as the Standard American Diet (this is often abbreviated as SAD, a fitting acronym).
With our busy lifestyles, it is all too easy to reach for processed and fast food to fuel our bodies, which may leave us depleted of essential nutrients. But even if we have a perfect diet, that still doesn’t mean that our bodies can absorb all the necessary nutrients from our food due to poor digestion issues.
When we eat food, our bodies break it down into nutrients like vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. These nutrients are then absorbed from our gut into the bloodstream, where they are circulated throughout our bodies. The prevalence of digestive issues
If you're tired of seeing your weight fluctuate, you may need to add some healthy habits to your weekly schedule.
Start Small
Consider these five small improvements that you can make this week that can add up to big results towards your goals for managing or losing weight.
Stock your kitchen. You can make room for the good things by getting rid of junk food. Keep healthy snacks on hand, along with staples for light meals.
Plan your meals. Write out a menu for your daily meals and snacks. You'll be able to tell at a glance if you're getting all your required nutrients, and you'll probably eat less!
Cook more. Restaurant meals and frozen food products tend to have more calories, salt, and sugar. Preparing your own food allows you to control the ingredients and calories to satisfy your health and nutrition goals.
Control portions. Foods can sometimes be so tempting that they lure you off your diet. Reduce your serving sizes so you can enjoy
More than one-third (36.5%) of U.S. adults have obesity. Read CDC National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) data brief Obesity-related conditions include heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and certain types of cancer, some of the leading causes of preventable death. Read guidelines The estimated annual medical cost of obesity in the U.S. was $147 billion in 2008 U.S. dollars; the medical costs for people who have obesity were $1,429 higher than those of normal weight.
Obesity decreased by level of education. Adults without a high school degree or equivalent had the highest self-reported obesity (35.5%), followed by high school graduates (32.3%), adults with some college (31.0%), and college graduates (22.2%).
Young adults were half as likely to have obesity as middle-aged adults. Adults aged 18-24 had the lowest self-reported obesity (17.3%) compared to adults aged 45-54 years who had the highest prevalence (35.1%).
Obesity Prevalence in 2016 Varies Across States and Territories
All states had more than 20% of adults with obesity.
20% to less than 25% of adults had obesity in 3 states (Colorado, Hawaii, and Massachusetts) and the District of Columbia.
25% to less than 30% of adults had obesity in 22 states and Guam.
30% to less than 35% of adults had obesity in 20 states, Puerto Rico, and Virgin Islands.
