One in 10 adults in the U.S. eat enough fruits and vegetables, according to research published in the CDC's most recent "Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report."
For the study, researchers examined responses to the 2015 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey. Just 9 percent of adults reported consuming the daily recommended amount of vegetables, and only 12 percent of adults met the daily recommendations for fruit.
"This report highlights that very few Americans eat the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables every day, putting them at risk for chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease," said Seung Hee Lee-Kwan, PhD, a researcher with the CDC's Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity and the lead author of the study. "As a result, we're missing out on the essential vitamins, minerals and fiber that fruits and vegetables provide."
Federal recommendations suggest adults should eat 1.5 to 2 cups of fruit and 2 to 3 cups of vegetables every day.
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