Health
| North Carolina in upper half of states for healthy living |
| No. 22 based on food consumption, obesity, and physical activity |
| Published Wednesday, November 23, 2022 5:30 pm |
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| STOCK PHOTO |
| North Carolina ranks 22nd in the U.S. based on fruit and vegetable consumption, obesity and physical activity according to a study by Enso Superfoods. |
North Carolina is one of the healthiest states in the United States according to a new study by Enso Superfoods.
The study found the state ranked No. 22 based on fruit and vegetable consumption, obesity, and physical activity.
Analysts at the organic supplement company looked at various data sets from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to determine which state was the healthiest based on nutrition and fitness. North Carolina ranks 16th for fruit intake, and ninth for eating vegetables.
“When you look at the fruit and vegetable consumption, that's where North Carolina really was, a lot better than most other states,” said Morgan Hale, spokesperson for Enso Superfoods.
The Tar Heel State ranked 27th for obesity, 28th for meeting physical activity guidelines, and 23rd for no physical activity during leisure time.
Vermont ranked as the healthiest state with the highest fruit consumption and physical activity. Maine, Vermont, and Massachusetts ranked as the top three states for people eating their veggies. New York and New Jersey tied for fifth.
Over 80% of Utah residents are physically active during their down time — best in the entire U.S. Montana ranked in the top 10 across all categories except for vegetable intake.

Although people tend to eat less fruits and vegetables, it's not because they eat out.
“I wouldn’t blame fast food for it,” Hale said.
With more fast-food restaurants serving healthier options, it has helped more Americans to eat healthy. Not all food on the menu is unhealthy. In fact, some food items contain a balanced meal consisting of carbs, protein, and vegetables.
“I think the reality is that most [fast food restaurants] aren’t really as unhealthy as we'd like to think as long as you’re not eating them every single day,” Hale said. “I think that it really just comes down to people’s motivation and their efforts in trying to eat healthy, not necessarily blaming the restaurants that are out there.”
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