Interventions to Promote Physical Activity and Dietary Lifestyle Changes for Cardiovascular Risk Factor Reduction in Adults

A pproximately 79 400 000 American adults, or 1 in 3, have cardiovascular disease (CVD). 1 CVD accounts for 36.3% or 1 of every 2.8 deaths in the United States and is the leading cause of death among both men and women in the United States, killing an average of 1 American every 37 seconds. 1 Older adults, some ethnic minority populations, and socioeconomically disadvantaged individuals have an increased prevalence of CVD and vascular/metabolic risk factors such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, and diabetes; are more likely to have 2 risk factors; and are at increased risk of being sedentary, overweight or obese, and having unhealthy dietary habits. 2-10 Black and Hispanic immigrants are initially at lower risk for vascular/metabolic risk factors and CVD than US-born black and Hispanic individuals, 2 but as they adapt to the diet and activity habits of this country, the prevalence of vascular/metabolic risk factors increases. Each of these issues emphasizes the importance of interventions to promote physical activity (PA) and healthy diets in all American adults.