ARS | Publication request: DIETARY AND LIFESTYLE PRACTICES OF NORMAL WEIGHT AND OVERWEIGHT ADULTS

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: April 1, 2004
Publication Date: June 23, 2004
Citation: Bowman, S.A. 2004. Dietary and lifestyle practices of normal weight and overweight adults. In: Proceedings from Farm to Fork - Practical Applications for Food Composition Data. 28th National Nutrient Databank Conference, June 6-7, 2004, Iowa City, Iowa. p. 68.

Technical Abstract: Overweight is one of the causes leading to diabetes, hypertension, cancer, and heart diseases. The prevalence of overweight including obesity has increased in the U.S. If this trend continues, it will affect quality of life and increase health care cost. Both dietary and non-dietary factors such as physical activity and exercise habits, and television viewing influence weight status. This study looked at dietary and other lifestyle practices of adults, ages 20 years and older, surveyed in the CSFII 1994-1996. Sixty percent of males and 46 percent of females were overweight. Adults ages 40 years and over were twice more likely to be overweight than young adults ages 20 to 29 years. The overweight adults consumed significantly high amount of total fat; saturated fat; and meat, poultry, and fish. The normal weight adults consumed significantly more carbohydrates, dietary fiber, fruits and grain products. Overweight adults were 15 percent less likely to exercise regularly and 66 percent more likely to watch television for more than 2 hours a day than normal weight adults. Adults who wish to maintain normal weight may increase physical activity, decrease sedentary activities such as television viewing, and eat foods such as grains, fruits, and vegetables that are good sources of dietary fiber.