Prevention Matters

The number of US adults following a healthy lifestyle has fallen in the last two decades despite health campaigns, a study shows. Levels of exercise also fell, as did consumption of fruit and vegetables. The American Journal of Medicine study found the number of people exercising three times a week or more fell from 53% to 43%, while the number of people eating five portions of fruit and vegetables a day fell by nearly 40%. Overall, researchers found, the number of people adhering to five "healthy habits" - including maintaining a healthy weight and stopping smoking - decreased from 15% to 8%.