A series of Gallup polls released in the last week show Americans are changing their attitudes about their diets, sometimes ignoring scientific research.
Fewer people are attempting to limit sodium intake, although no research has invalidated its risks to health. In 2002, 45 percent of Americans tried to avoid salt, but that number dropped to 39 percent this year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention maintain that most Americans consume too much sodium, increasing risks of hypertension, stroke and heart disease.
Even fewer people attempt to avoid fats. The share of people cutting back on fats decreased from 62 percent to 47 percent in the same time span. But unlike with salt, people can justify their fatty food habits by citing some recent findings. The government’s Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee has concluded that limiting fat intake has no health benefits.
Gluten-free diets are popular but have no proven health benefits unless you’re trying to cope with celiac disease. People with celiac disease make up just 1 percent of the population, but one in five Americans incorporate gluten-free foods in their diets, according to Gallup. Some Americans consider gluten-free to be a version of a no-carb diet, and use it to lose weight. Others claim it makes them feel healthier.
Coffee drinking is prevalent too, with coffeehouses seemingly on every corner. Despite this, the number of coffee drinkers remains steady. From a survey of 1,000 Americans, Gallup found that 64 percent drink at least one cup of coffee a day. That number has barely budged from 63 percent in 1999.
WebMD describes caffeine as creating a “mild physical dependence,” but research hasn’t found definitive negative health effects. In addition, people who drink more coffee are more likely to admit they are addicted. Only about one person in 10 who drinks one cup sees him or herself as addicted, but that rate increases to about three in 10 for two cups and close to half for those who drink three or more cups a day.
People are more willing than they used to be heed the surgeon general’s warning about smoking cigarettes. Only 20 percent of adults smoke today, compared to 40 percent in 1970. About one in four Americans wants smoking to become illegal, the highest opposition Gallup has ever found.
The share of Americans who consider drinking alcohol as beneficial to their health is at a 15-year low, with one in five naming moderate drinking — one or two drinks — as healthy. Even so, the number of people consuming alcohol — 64 percent — has barely budged for the past few decades.
These polls reveal that in some cases, people acknowledge their bad habits and may be trying to alter their lifestyles. In other cases, though, personal preferences trump scientific research. Some old habits die hard, especially when they taste so good.
Emily Leayman is an intern at the Washington Examiner
