Many seem to have lost their appetite for
fad diets, a new survey finds.
More than two-thirds (69 percent) of respondents
said they're less likely to try a specialized
or fad diet today compared to five years ago.
Men are more skeptical than women of fad regimens,
the survey found.
The poll, recently released by the nonprofit
group America On the Move, involved 2,339
adults age 18 or older. It found that many
people do understand that eating less and
being active is the best way to be healthy.
A majority of respondents also believe business
and government can play an important role
in encouraging people to adopt healthy lifestyles.
Some other survey results:
- Two-thirds of those surveyed said they'd
started a new weight-loss or control program
or diet at least once within the past five
years. Sixty-five percent said those attempts
to shed pounds failed, however.
- Seven out of 10 respondents said they're
currently doing something to lose weight
or maintain a healthy weight. Of those,
14 percent said their current diet, activity
or program isn't working, and they're frustrated
with the lack of success. Another 7 percent
said their attempts at weight loss/control
are working, but they're not optimistic
about long-term success.
- One-third said that food and beverage
companies need to create more choices and
more affordable options for healthier foods.
- Three-quarters of those polled percent
said government has a role to play in tackling
the obesity problem in the United States
and helping people develop healthy lifestyles.
The survey was released during "America
on the Move Week," Sept. 23 to Sept.
30, at YMCAs across the country. Americans
are encouraged to count the steps they take
during this week in order to amass a nationwide
total of more than a billion steps.
