Truven Health Analytics-NPR Health Poll: Forty-One Percent of Americans Believe Their Diet is Healthy, While Twenty-Five Percent Say Theirs is Fair or Poor

In January 2016, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Agriculture updated the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, including removal of the previous limitation on dietary cholesterol. The latest survey asked respondents for their awareness of the guidelines and their opinions about and personal experience with their diet.

Overall, 41 percent of respondents said they considered their eating habits to be either very good or excellent. Twenty-five percent (one quarter) said their diet was either fair or poor.  

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When asked about the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, just 26 percent were aware of the change in the dietary cholesterol recommendation. Thirty-five percent said they were confused about what kinds of oils and fats to consume for a healthy diet, a rate that tends to decrease with increasing age, level of education, and level of income.

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Of respondents who were aware of the new guidelines, 22 percent said they were eating more foods that are high in animal fat, while 14 percent they are eating less of such foods. Additionally, 27 percent of all respondents said they are eating more whole grains than they were six months ago, 11 percent said they are eating less, and 62 percent said there has been no change.

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"In addition to a distinct lack of awareness about the latest dietary recommendations, these results indicate some confusion when it comes to dietary choices," said Michael Taylor, M.D., chief medical officer at Truven Health Analytics. "Approximately 70 percent of Americans are overweight or obese according to the Centers for Disease Control, yet our survey shows that 41 percent of Americans say their diets are good. We appear to be seeing a disconnect between perception and reality when it comes to healthy eating."

To date, the Truven Health Analytics-NPR Health Poll has explored numerous health topics, including generic drugs, vaccines, data privacy, narcotic painkillers and sports-related concussions. NPR archives reports on the surveys online at the Shots health blog here.

Truven Health maintains a library of poll results here.

The Truven Health Analytics-NPR Health Poll is powered by the Truven Health PULSE^® survey, the nation's largest and longest-running independently funded, nationally representative multi-modal poll that collects information about health-related behaviors and attitudes and healthcare use from 80,000 U.S. households annually. Survey questions are developed in conjunction with NPR. The figures in this month's poll are based on 3,007 participants interviewed from May 1-14, 2016.

About Truven Health Analytics, an IBM Company
Truven Health Analytics, an IBM Company, delivers the answers that clients need to help them improve healthcare quality and access while reducing costs. We provide market-leading performance improvement solutions built on data integrity, advanced analytics, and domain expertise. For more than 40 years, our insights and solutions have been providing hospitals and clinicians, employers and health plans, state and federal government agencies, life sciences companies, and policymakers the facts they need to help them make confident decisions that directly affect the health and well-being of people and organizations in the U.S. and around the world.

Truven Health Analytics owns some of the most trusted brands in healthcare, such as MarketScan®, 100 Top Hospitals®, Advantage Suite®, Micromedex®, Simpler®, ActionOI® and JWA. Truven Health has its principal offices in Ann Arbor, Mich.; Chicago; and Denver. For more information, please visit truvenhealth.com   

About NPR
NPR is an award-winning, multimedia news organization and an influential force in American life. In collaboration with more than 900 independent public radio stations nationwide, NPR strives to create a more informed public - one challenged and invigorated by a deeper understanding and appreciation of events, ideas and cultures.

CONTACTS

Ariana Nikitas
[email protected]
312.533.3437

Brian Erni
For Truven Health Analytics
J. Roderick, Inc. Public Relations
[email protected]
631.584.2200

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SOURCE Truven Health Analytics

Related Links

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