Do you believe you live a healthy lifestyle? Aside from the occasional detour, most of us believe we do a good job of preserving our health through excellent (or at least adequate) eating habits and physical activity whenever we can fit it in. Is this, however, sufficient to be deemed "healthy?"

According to a recent study, just a small percentage of persons meet the criteria for a healthy lifestyle. The study, published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, found that only 3% of American people met all four basic criteria for healthy living, according to the authors. Only 13.8 percent satisfied three of the criteria, while 34.2 percent met only two. Women outperformed males somewhat.

See how you fare on the four keys to health identified by the researchers:

  • Do you use tobacco?
  • Are you able to keep a healthy weight (BMI 18-25) or are you able to lose weight in order to achieve a healthy weight?
  • Do you consume at least 5 servings of fruits and veggies every day?
  • Do you workout for 30 minutes or more five times a week?
The good news is that all but one of these behaviours should be familiar to you because they are part of the Weight Loss Clinic. Numbers 2–4 are the cornerstone of the WLC programme, and they are behaviours that we constantly discuss, write about, and advocate.

Everyone is aware that smoking is harmful to one's health. Pat yourself on the back if you were fortunate enough not to become addicted to nicotine. Smokers, I hope you're working hard to stop the habit. It's impossible to overestimate the value of a smoke-free lifestyle for your health and the health of people around you.