Are average Americans healthy?

Asked by: Mr. Lisandro Homenick Sr.  |  Last update: January 2, 2026
Score: 4.6/5 (10 votes)

The U.S. has the lowest life expectancy at birth, the highest death rates for avoidable or treatable conditions, the highest maternal and infant mortality, and among the highest suicide rates. The U.S. has the highest rate of people with multiple chronic conditions and an obesity rate nearly twice the OECD average.

What percent of Americans are not healthy?

Data revealed that only 12.2 percent of American adults are metabolically healthy, which means that only 27.3 million adults are meeting recommended targets for cardiovascular risk factors management, according to researchers.

Which nationality eats the healthiest?

The 10 Healthiest Cuisines in the World
  1. 1. Japanese. Japanese culture tends to eat well in small portions with colorful vegetables and they strive to eat very healthy and using seasonal ingredients and flavors. ...
  2. Indian. ...
  3. South Mediterranean (Italian and Greek) ...
  4. Korean. ...
  5. Ethiopian. ...
  6. Nordic Scandinavian. ...
  7. Vietnamese. ...
  8. Lebanese.

Is the average American diet unhealthy?

Unfortunately, poor diets can be dangerous to your health, and even deadly. Almost half of all American adults have one or more chronic illnesses due to poor diet. And over 45% of US deaths from heart disease, stroke, or diabetes are linked to diet. The American diet is quite literally, killing us.

What percent of Americans actually eat healthy?

Around half of Americans are healthy eaters, at least according to their own testimonies. According to Statista Consumer Insights, 50 percent of Americans claim to actively try to eat healthy.

Why eating healthy is so expensive in America

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What percent of Americans are fit?

In 2020, 24.2% of adults aged 18 and over met the 2018 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans for both aerobic and muscle-strengthening activities. The percentage of adults who met both physical activity guidelines was higher among men (28.3%) than women (20.4%) and decreased with age for both men and women.

How healthy is the average person?

The overall picture was positive, however, socioeconomic disparities emerged. While 71% of Americans rated their overall health and wellness as good or excellent, that was true for only 60% of those with a household income of less than $50k, and 81% of those with a household income of $100k or more.

How unhealthy is America compared to other countries?

The U.S. has the lowest life expectancy at birth, the highest death rates for avoidable or treatable conditions, the highest maternal and infant mortality, and among the highest suicide rates. The U.S. has the highest rate of people with multiple chronic conditions and an obesity rate nearly twice the OECD average.

Why is it hard to eat healthy in America?

Barriers to eating a healthier diet are the cost of healthy food (60%), stress eating (42%), lack of time to prepare healthy meals (33%) and lack of knowledge of what foods are healthy and how to prepare healthy meals (32%). Food Is Medicine (FIM) initiatives and related programs lack visibility.

Are we eating better or worse than in the past?

But although we are getting larger and heavier, our diet has become healthier over the last 100 years. We eat far more food today than we did 100 years ago.

What race is the most healthiest?

Whites are usually taken as the standard against which other groups are compared, but they are not necessarily in the best health. Hispanics appear to be healthier than whites on a number of measures, though not all. Asians are generally in better health than any other group (Hummer et al., 2004).

What country has the unhealthiest diet?

The five countries with the unhealthiest diet:
  • Uzbekistan.
  • Afghanistan.
  • Marshall Islands.
  • Papua New Guinea.
  • Vanuatu.

What is the fittest country?

Healthiest Countries (2024): Japan has been ranked the fittest country in the world for 2024, followed closely by Singapore and Switzerland. These nations excel in health metrics such as life expectancy, obesity rates, and lifestyle choices.

Are Americans becoming healthier?

Americans are getting healthier by some key metrics. Overdose deaths are down, life expectancy is up, the odds of surviving cancer are improving, and we're even losing weight.

Why don't we eat healthy?

Part of the problem lies in people's misguided assumptions. Many still view healthy eating as being too restrictive — low fat, low calorie, low sugar. Then there are the perceptions that healthy foods are expensive and recipes complex.

What percentage of Americans are overweight?

Nearly 1 in 3 adults (30.7%) are overweight. More than 1 in 3 men (34.1%) and more than 1 in 4 women (27.5%) are overweight. More than 2 in 5 adults (42.4%) have obesity (including severe obesity). About 1 in 11 adults (9.2%) have severe obesity.

How unhealthy is the average American?

Millions of Americans suffer from chronic diseases that could be prevented with proper diet and exercise. More than 26 million people have heart disease; 67 million have high blood pressure and more than 78 million Americans are obese. But there are things you can do to not be part of these statistics.

What country has the healthiest food?

  • Japan. Japan's diet is characterised by fresh seafood, rice and vegetables. ...
  • The Mediterranean. The Mediterranean diet in countries like Greece, Cyprus, Italy, and Spain has lots of olive oil, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fish. ...
  • South Korea. ...
  • Australia. ...
  • Ethiopia. ...
  • Sweden. ...
  • Greek horiatiki (Greek salad) ...
  • Lebanese tabbouleh.

When did American food become unhealthy?

Since the end of WWII, the way that Americans eat has changed radically. The country transformed from relying on a relatively wholesome and nourishing food system to a daily diet laden with fats, sugar, and ultra-processed unhealthy foods.

Which state is unhealthy in USA?

A 2023 report by The Commonwealth Fund, an independent research group, also found that the U.S. has the highest rate of people diagnosed with multiple chronic illnesses when compared to other wealthy nations. As for the unhealthiest state in America, West Virginia claims the No. 1 spot.

What country is #1 in healthcare?

The Legatum Prosperity Index 2023

According to the index, Singapore ranks first for healthcare, followed by Japan in second place and South Korea in third. In contrast, the United States ranks much lower, coming in at 69th place in this assessment.

Are Americans or Europeans healthier?

Indeed, many studies have shown that the health of middle-aged Americans, and health behaviors such as smoking and obesity, are much worse than those of Western Europeans (Banks et al., 2006; Andreyeva et al., 2007; Thorpe et al., 2007).

What age are humans healthiest?

The simple answer, says Dr. Frishman, is that our bodies peak in our 20s and 30s. The more nuanced response, however, is shaped by how we deal with reduced vigor and energy as we age, as well as the depression that can set in as we realize we're not as invincible as we once were. “Yes, the body ages and slows down.

What percent of Americans don't eat healthy?

Almost half of U.S. adults, or 46%, have a poor-quality diet, with too little fish, whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts and beans, and too much salt, sugar-sweetened beverages and processed meats. Our additional research shows U.S. kids are doing even worse: More than half, or 56%, have a poor diet.

What is the average lifespan of an American?

In 2022, the CDC estimates life expectancy at birth in the U.S. increased to 77.5 years, up 1.1 years from 76.4 years in 2021, but still down 1.3 years from 78.8 years in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic.