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A12 HEALTH
Wednesday 4 november 2020
More Americans on diets from a decade ago, report finds

they were on diets than
those ages 20 to 39.
—Between 2007-08 and
2017-18, diets described as
“weight loss or low calorie”
grew in popularity, and re-
mained the top category
of special diet. Low-car-
bohydrate diets gained in
popularity, while low-fat
and low-cholesterol saw a
decline.
The findings were based on
an ongoing national sur-
vey in which participants
were asked: “Are you cur-
rently on any kind of diet,
either to lose weight or for
some other health-related
reason?” Becky Ramsing,
a registered dietitian and
senior program officer at
Johns Hopkins Center for
a Livable Future, said that
the dietary changes peo-
In this May 8, 2014, file photo, an overweight person is seen in New York. ple make in hopes of losing
Associated Press weight can vary greatly.
And in some cases, she
By CANDICE CHOI Americans said they were adults have diet-related to report being on a spe- said people might not un-
NEW YORK (AP) — If it seems on diets during the 2017- chronic conditions, such cial diet. The report found derstand why the choices
like more and more people 2018 survey period, up from as diabetes and heart dis- 23% of Americans who are they’re making aren’t lead-
are on diets these days, you 14% a decade earlier. Over ease, and that special diets obese said they were on di- ing to weight loss.
might not be imagining it. the same period obesity are a way many people try ets, compared with 17% of “They won’t eat bread, but
A higher percentage of rates rose in the U.S. to 42% to manage them. Hunnes overweight people and 8% then they’ll go eat a lot of
Americans said they’re on of Americans, up from 34%. cautioned, though, that of people who were nor- other things that are higher
a special diet to lose weight The percentage of Ameri- many people might not mal weight or underweight. in calories,” she said.
or for other health reasons cans who said they’re on a consider the way they eat —More women reported Many diet trends often fo-
compared with a decade diet is lower than expected to be a diet. being on a diet than men. cus on banning particular
ago, according to a report given prevalence of diet- The report also looked at —18% of non-Hispanic foods, Ramsing said. But to
Tuesday by the U.S. Cen- related diseases in the responses between 2015 white Americans, 16% of make lasting changes, she
ters for Disease Control and country, said Dana Hunnes, and 2018 to determine oth- Hispanic Americans and said people should con-
Prevention. a professor of public health er characteristics of people 15% of Asian and Black sider their overall patterns
The increase comes as and nutrition at the Univer- on special diets: Americans said they were of eating. That will also help
obesity rates have con- sity of California, Los Ange- —The heavier and more diets. address another pitfall of
tinued to climb. The CDC les. The report notes that educated people were, —A higher percentage of diets, she said: They’re hard
report found that 17% of about half of American the more likely they were people 40 and older said to stick to over time.q

Does weather affect the spread of the coronavirus outside?

zation says the virus can spaces where the virus choir practices. The coro-
be transmitted in any kind can spread more easily. navirus does not transmit
of weather and that there Studies have shown that as often outdoors because
is no reason to believe that a significant percentage fresh air disperses the virus
cold weather can kill it. of spread happens within particles and people are
The U.N. health agency households when people more easily able to keep
says the virus is mainly are sharing common ar- their distance from others.
spread between people. eas like kitchens and bath- But experts caution that if
Rain and snow might dilute rooms. people spend extended
any traces of the virus on WHO and others have periods of time outdoors
benches or other outside also warned that in indoor close to others without
objects, but transmission spaces with poor ventila- wearing masks, coronavi-
from surfaces is not be- tion, transmission happens rus spread is still possible.
lieved to be a major con- more easily because the Health officials say the best
A motorist travels on Route 7 in Pownal, Vt., as the landscape tributor to the pandemic. virus can be spread in the way to stop transmission of
was turned into a winter wonderland following the first snowfall Scientists say the real con- air and infectious particles the virus is to wear a mask
of the season on Friday, Oct. 30, 2020.
Associated Press cern about cold weather might remain suspended in public, stay at least 6
is that lower temperatures in the air for several hours. feet (2 meters) away from
By The Associated Press outside? are more likely to keep Superspreader events people not in your house-
Does weather affect the Not really. people indoors — poten- have been traced to hold and frequently wash
spread of the coronavirus The World Health Organi- tially in more crowded nightclubs, gyms and even your hands.q