Less than three per cent people in the United States live a healthy lifestyle by getting a moderate amount of exercise, eating the right food and avoiding smoking, a new study has revealed. Researchers analyzed data on more than 4,700 people who participated in the U.S. National Health & Nutrition Survey, focusing on four general principles of healthy living -- a healthy diet, moderate exercise, keeping body fat under control and not smoking.

The study found that nearly 97.3 per cent of U.S. adults got a failing grade on healthy lifestyle habits. In other words, merely 2.7 per cent of Americans were found to be leading a healthy lifestyle by engaging in regular exercise, consuming right food and avoiding smoking. Regular exercise or physical activity is important for maintaining long term good health.

Associate professor Ellen Smit, of the OSU College of Public Health & Human Sciences, said, “The behavior standards we were measuring for were pretty reasonable, not super high. We weren’t looking for marathon runners.”

The study found 71 per cent of the adults surveyed didn’t smoke, 38 per cent ate healthy diet, 10 per cent had a normal body fat percentage and 46 per cent got required amounts of physical exercise. Nearly 16 per cent had three of the four aforementioned healthy lifestyle behaviors, 37 per cent had two, 34 per cent had one and 11 per cent had none.

Smit said the four standards used in the study are usual lifestyle advice given by health experts to patients. Those who adhere to these advices can surely reduce their risk of several health issues, including Type-2 diabetes and heart disease.