Further, the number of people eating recommended amounts of protective foods like vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans and legumes falls far short of recommendations. Instead, intake of empty calories from nutrient-poor foods laden with fat and sugar is high. Fifty-two percent of calories in the U.S. diet come from fats and sugar. Total calorie intake continues to increase, fewer people are exercising, and obesity has skyrocketed. Further, healthier eating and exercise practices are less common among some minority groups and people with less education or lower incomes.
Food is abundant and inexpensive.
Moreover, many foods that are widely advertised tend to be high in calories and relatively low in nutrients. Few advertisements appear for less processed foods including vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans and legumes. Long workweeks for men and women mean less time for preparing balanced meals and exercising. Americans depend on their cars, rather than walking or bicycling to travel even short distances. Further, Americans spend much of their working and leisure hours in sedentary activities.