Perspectives for patients. Health and wellness: making the healthy choice the easy choice.
Our lifestyle choices play a key role in keeping us from getting hurt or sick. Limited sleep, inactivity, and poor nutrition can increase the risk of injury and disease. Also, increasing our sleep, activity, and the quality of what we eat and drink can speed recovery from a disease or illness. Less than 70% of adults get enough sleep. Poor sleep-less than 7 to 8 hours each night-is related to depression, work-related injuries, and weight gain. In addition, less than 45% of adults get the recommended 30 to 60 minutes of physical activity daily. Inactivity is tied to chronic disease, weight gain, and poor sleep. Finally, only 30% of Americans are at a healthy weight. Poor nutrition-too much sugar and fat and not enough fruits and vegetables-is linked to disease, depression, and inadequate sleep. Recently, a panel of 36 experts from academia, government, and the military gathered to discuss how to make the healthy choice the easy choice. A summary of this meeting was published in the May 2014 issue of JOSPT.
D005247:Feeding Behavior; D015438:Health Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D011634:Public Health; D014481:United States