Called also: Unhealthy behaviors in American adults.

Americans are living longer, but unhealthy behaviors continue to compromise our health.

• 1 in 4 adults is a current smoker

• More than one in three adults is obese

• Only one in five adults meets recommended levels of physical activity

• Fewer than half of adults with high blood pressure and less than a third of adults with high cholesterol have it under control.

Small Steps can make a big difference.

For example, if each American cut back just 100 Calories a day for 3 years, we could prevent over 57 million potentially fatal cases of heart disease, cancer and diabetes.

Health care workers can:

• Screen for risk factors

• Counsel, treat and monitor patients

• Encourage them to take their medicines and make healthier choices

• Connect patients to community resources

Stephen B. Thacker CDC Library collection

United States