Survey: Most Americans consider their lifestyles healthy

WASHINGTON According to a survey released Monday by the American Public Health Association, 85% of Americans characterize their lifestyle as somewhat or very healthy.

“The trend of Americans making healthier lifestyle changes, such as eating better and exercising more, shows that the U.S. population is taking the necessary steps to becoming a healthier nation,” stated Georges Benjamin, executive director of APHA. “Americans need to ‘start small, think big,’ in transforming our nation into a healthier nation. Individuals recognize that their personal changes can result in broader community impact.

“It’s encouraging that many Americans are taking steps towards healthier living, but unfortunately these same adults don’t view our nation as making these same strides,” Benjamin added. “This disconnect shows that we need to commit to promoting good health in our communities, which can create a ripple effect across our neighborhoods, our cities, states and, hopefully, our nation.”

APHA established National Public Health Week, April 5-11, to educate and engage the U.S. public with ways to protect and improve our nation’s health.This year’s theme, A Healthier America: One Community at a Time, encourages communities across the country to commit to making America a healthier nation.