Are New Yorkers consuming enough fruits and veggies? What about exercising enough? These are a few of the questions that the New York State Department of Health seeks answers to when they conduct the annual Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey (BRFSS) - a statewide random telephone survey designed by the CDC and conducted in all 50 states.
How many New Yorkers eat enough fruits and vegetables?
For a healthy diet, based on 2,000 calories, adults should consume 2.5 cups of vegetables and 2 cups of fruit daily. According to data from the 2015 BRFSS, in New York State, 37.4% of adults do not consume fruit daily and 22.4% do not consume vegetables daily. The percentage of adults who do not consume fruits and vegetables daily was highest for those ages 18 to 24, with 45.6% of individual in this age group reporting they consume fruits and vegetables less than one time per day. While the amount of fruit you need to eat depends on age, sex, and level of physical activity, you can visit www.choosemyplate.gov/fruit or www.choosemyplate.gov/vegetables to find your CDC daily recommendations.
How does New York stack up? New York ranks 13th for the percentage of the population consuming fruits daily and ties for 24th for daily vegetable consumption.
Soda and Sugary Drink Consumption in New York State
The 2015 BRFSS shows that 19.6% of adults in New York State drink at least one soda or another sugary beverage per day. Daily consumption of soda or sugary drinks was higher among males than females, and highest among adults aged 18-24.
Incorporating Physical Activity into Leisure Time in New York
According to the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans from the CDC, adults should exercise for at least 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity activity, or 75 minutes per week of vigorous-intensity activity. Adults are also encouraged to perform muscle strengthening activities at least two days a week. Over 70% of adults in New York State participated in regular leisure-time physical activity. While 37% of adults reported meeting the recommendations for physical activity or muscle strengthening activity, only 20% of adults reported meeting both. On Long Island, residents have shown an increase in physical activity since 2013, but overall, rates are still below the national average.
Get Moving with Tips from LIHC
Want to incorporate more healthy eating and physical activity into your lifestyle? Check out our online walking resources and our ultimate guide to healthy living on Long Island.