Americans Make Diet and Fitness Resolutions

Posted on January 3, 2006

The beginning of the year is when many people make New Year's resolutions and start diets. However, a NPD Group study found that more people actually diet in March (26%) than in January (23%) -- maybe that's because the snow finally starts to melt in some of the colder states. A study by Goalfree.com found that 38% of people making New Year's resolutions say they will make one that is related to their waistline. Another study from NPD Group queried people currently on a diet about what type of diet they are following. Here are the results:

  • My own diet: 30.3%
  • Diet prescribed by doctor: 12.3%
  • Weight Watchers: 10.8%
  • Low-fat diet: 9.4%
  • Other diets: 9.1%
  • Low-calorie diet: 6.5%
  • South Beath diet: 5.0%
  • Sugar free diet: 4.9%
  • Atkins: 4.5%
  • Slim Fast: 4.0%

    An article (no longer available) on Mlive.com called "6 Ways to be Healthy" says forget the resolutions and offers some general healthy living tips from local health professionals instead. They include eat less of everything, get a pedometer, drink more water, avoid fad diets, listen to your head and your heart and don't tailgate. These are all great tips but we especially liked the pedometer suggestion.

    But don't just stick it in a drawer somewhere, strap it on, says Sarah Gray, senior health and wellness director at the David D. Hunting YMCA in Grand Rapids. It's a visual reminder to strive for walking more steps daily.

    Your goal should be about 10,000 steps daily, the equivalent of five miles. If you know you're not stepping up to that challenge, you may be more likely to hit the stairs instead of the button that opens the elevator door.

    For those with resolutions to become more fit in 2006 an article from the Glenwood Springs Post Independent suggests starting slow -- a pedometer may be one way for people to do this.



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