Editorial: Back away from that cookie

Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2005 | 7:56 a.m.

Before eating that second or third slice of pie Thursday, consider that a recent survey shows more Americans described themselves as unhealthy now than did five years ago.

The poll conducted by Thomson Corp.'s Medstat unit, a private health care industry consulting firm, asked survey participants to rate their health on a five-level scale from excellent to poor, Bloomberg News reports.

It shows 18 percent of Americans polled rated their health as fair to poor, which is up from 15 percent in 2000. One of the biggest jumps was recorded in adults younger than 35, as 11 percent of them rated their health in the lowest two categories, up from 6 percent five years ago.

One of the researchers said low ratings among younger adults "is indicative of large-scale lifestyle issues." These include poor eating habits, a lack of exercise and too much stress -- the recipe for the typical American holiday season. We eat too many goodies, suspend our fitness regimens and worry about how to juggle all the family and frivolity.

And it's not just adults who suffer. Children who are overweight are more prone to broken bones and joint problems -- typically the perils of aging adults -- than children of normal weight, research by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases shows.

The solutions can be simple, but may not be easy. Step away from the stuffing -- walk around the block if necessary. And stop worrying. The holidays last only a few weeks. But the benefits of a healthy lifestyle last a lifetime.