Yet people are packing on the pounds like never before. More than half of adults in Tennessee are overweight, according to the National Institutes of Health. There's a perception among some people that healthy foods are more expensive, say West Tennessee doctors. But that's often just an excuse. People like the convenience of fast food and frozen dinners and don't like to put time or effort into planning nutritious meals, health professionals say.
Smoking is also a problem, though smoking rates have gone down over the past few decades.
The decline in smoking is one of the most significant factors in a drop in heart disease, said Louis Cunningham, a cardiologist with the Mid-South Heart Center. Also worrisome is the fact that 58 percent of Tennesseans report having a sedentary lifestyle, according to a Tennessee Department of Health survey. Being sedentary is defined as having less than 20 minutes of leisure-time physical activity at least three times a week. Fitness and health experts say even minimal exercise can fight off heart disease, diabetes and other chronic ailments. It keeps your metabolism up, you feel better and you are able to recover from illnesses faster.