GOOD NUTRITION HABITS GAINING TRACTION

According to a new annual survey from the American Dietetic Association, more and more Americans are aware of the importance of nutrition and physical activity -- and are taking steps to eat a healthy diet and exercise.

The survey, which has been going on since 1991, uses respondents' answers to put people into three groups that describe their attitudes toward maintaining a healthy diet and getting regular exercise:

1. I'm Already Doing It -- These people feel that maintaining a healthy diet and regular exercise are very important; are concerned about diet, nutrition, and overall fitness; and feel they are doing all they can to eat a healthy diet.

2. I Know I Should -- This group feels that maintaining a healthy diet and regular exercise are very important, but may not have taken actions to do all they can to eat a healthy diet.

3. Don't Bother Me -- These people don't feel diet and exercise are very important to them and are the least concerned with their overall nutrition and fitness.

By the Numbers ...

The percentage of people in the Don't Bother Me category has dropped substantially from 2002 (32%) to 2008 (19%).

The Don't Bother Me group was as large as 40% in the mid-1990s.

"These trends tell us people are paying more attention to their nutritional and physical activity needs and are increasingly doing what they need to do to eat right and be healthy," said an ADA spokesperson.

More Results ...

• Women are more likely than men to say diet and physical activity both are very important.

• Younger adults are much less likely than older people to consider diet and nutrition very important.

• People with a college education are more likely to say diet and nutrition are very important than people with a high school degree or less.

STUDY: CONSCIENTIOUS PEOPLE LIVE LONGER

According to a new study from the University of California-Riverside, "conscientious" people live longer.

The researchers found that people who are organized, reliable, and competent tend to live longer.

"The major finding is that this conscientiousness aspect of personality is indeed reliably predictive of mortality risk across studies," said lead researcher Howard S. Friedman. "This seems to be as important as most commonly assessed medical risk factors, few of which are psychological."

"Conscientious people tend to have better health habits and take less risks, but they also travel life pathways toward healthier psychosocial environments -- such as more stable jobs and marriages -- and may even have a biological predisposition toward good health," Friedman said.

• Highly conscientious people live an average of two to four years longer than others.
• Conscientious people are also less likely to smoke or drink excessively and live more stable, less stressful lives.