Americans exercise, but keep getting fatter. According to NPR, that’s the latest news from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

About 35 percent of adults engage regularly in physical activity when they’re not working, according to estimates based on a 2009 nationwide survey. That’s up from 32 percent in 2008. But more people in the U.S. are obese than ever. In 2009, about 28 percent of people in the U.S. were obese, up a fraction of a percent from 2008.

Now, it’s easy to argue that obese people aren’t exercising at all – but that’s just not the case. The problem is, exercise alone will not solve the obesity crisis. Even a strenuous two-hour workout won’t burn as many calories as are in one restaurant meal, much less the other high-fat, high-salt, high-calorie processed crap that many of us eat throughout the day. People often use exercise as an excuse to eat poorly – and it never balances out.

The US Department of Agriculture released today new nutritional guidelines restricting sugar, salt and saturated fat, and advising Americans to eat more fruits and vegetables. But since the USDA realizes that many people simply won’t follow the advice, the panel called for improvements in nutrition literacy and cooking skills to encourage preparation of healthy foods at home; increased emphasis on health, nutrition and physical education in schools; and increased availability of fresh produce for consumers.

It’s hard work to be healthy. Getting exercise is great, but it’s not enough. If you had to pick one area to work on – diet or exercise – you’d be better off working on your diet. Start with changing a few small choices!

Photo: NYTimes