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Couples who live together have similar health habits. But just one in five couples fall into the “ideal” category for heart-healthy habits and risk aspects, a study within the Oct. JAMA Network Open..
Researchers checked out health data on 5,365 couples from diverse racial and economic backgrounds within the United States. Most were of their 40s and 50s. Based on the American Heart Association's Lives Simple 7 risk aspects (smoking status, body mass index, exercise, eating regimen, total cholesterol, blood pressure, and fasting blood sugar), the researchers divided individuals and couples into poor, middle, or rated as ideal for everybody. element and most.
The researchers found that just about 80 percent of couples were in the center or poor category, with unhealthy diets and insufficient exercise being the foremost reason. On the plus side, each of those aspects will be improved. And prior research suggests that when one member of a pair makes positive behavioral changes, the opposite member makes similar changes over time. That means programs to encourage heart-healthy habits might help each members of a pair, the authors note.
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