Are Americans starting to get it? Do they understand the connection between what they eat, how much they exercise and how much they weigh? Do they understand how certain foods affect their health and how they feel? </p><p>There certainly is a lot of information out there, but information does not mean understanding, and we can't make meaningful changes without understanding. </p><p>The latest International Food Information Council Foundation's Food & Health Survey 2010 looked at Americans' eating, health habits and food safety practices. The survey found that, "When it comes to calories consumed versus calories burned, most Americans (58 percent) do not make an effort to balance the two; a large majority of people (77 percent) are not meeting the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Physical Activity Guidelines."</p><p>The Food and Health Survey team reports that there are many different messages about the importance of a healthy lifestyle that are being heard. The survey shows a disconnect in consumers' awareness of the relationship between diet, physical activity and calories.</p><p>The survey found that most Americans (70 percent) say they are concerned about their weight status, and even more (77 percent) are trying to lose or maintain their weight. Those surveyed said they are changing the amount of food they eat (69 percent); changing the type of foods they eat (63 percent); and engaging in physical activity (60 percent). Then again, 58 percent say they never or rarely make a daily effort to balance calories. Only 6 percent indicate that they always make an effort to do so. How can someone expect their weight or health to change if they don't make an effort every day to make it happen? </p><p>Less than a quarter of Americans currently meet physical activity guidelines and a third report being sedentary. Most Americans that say they are active do not include strength training in their physical activity routine. Few Americans (12 percent) can accurately estimate the number of calories they should consume in a day for a person their age, height, weight and physical activity.</p><p>So I suppose we should make sure as many people as possible understand some of the basics. A good rule of thumb in estimating the amount of calories you need is as follows: If you want to lose weight eat less food and do more activity, not just for a few weeks but almost every day for your whole life. </p><p>When it comes to doing exercise and activity there are some guidelines that are put out by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Adults should do 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate-intensity, or 1 hour and 15 minutes a week of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity or an equivalent combination of moderate- and vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity. Aerobic activity should be performed in episodes of at least 10 minutes, preferably spread throughout the week. </p><p>So if you don't have a lot of time to do exercise do higher intensity for a shorter period of time. Walking or running a mile burns the same number of calories. </p><p>Chuck Newcomb, MS, RD is a consulting Registered Dietitian currently providing medical nutrition therapy services for Memorial Hospital Los Banos. He has a Masters of Science in Clinical Nutrition from New York University. E-mail questions to the Attention of ChuckRD at: MHALosBanos@SutterHealth.org.