Can an economic downturn actually boost healthy habits? 70% of Americans say yes: Here’s why

kAmx7 E96 64@?@>J 5:AD[ 962=E9J 923:ED >2J 24EF2==J C:D6] p44@C5:?8 E@ C6DF=ED @7 2 ?6H k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]9:>D]4@>Qmw:>Dk^2m DEF5J[ f_T @7 p>6C:42?D 28C66 E92E 2? 64@?@>:4 DBF66K6 ?F586D E96> E@H2C5 k6>m962=E9:6Ck^6>m 923:ED E92E DFAA@CE =@H6C DA6?5:?8] %9:?<i @FE5@@C 6I6C4:D6 W7C6D9 2:C :D 4962A6C E92? 2 8J> >6>36CD9:AX[ 76H6C AC:46J 4@4<E2:=D[ 2?5 2 H9@=6 =@E @7 9@>6\4@@<65 >62=D]k^Am

kAmx? 255:E:@? E@ 64@?@>:4 D=F>AD :?DA:C:?8 A6@A=6 E@ =@@< 7@C H2JD E@ D2G6 >@?6J[ gdT @7 C6DA@?56?ED 28C66 E92E E96D6 A6C:@5D :>A24E E96:C 962=E9 923:ED 2?5 C@FE:?6D — 3@E9 7@C 36EE6C 2?5 7@C H@CD6]k^Am

kAm{6E’D DE2CE H:E9 H92E’D 36EE6C] pD >6?E:@?65[ C6DA@?56?ED 2C6 86EE:?8 @FED:56 >@C6[ 5C:?<:?8 =6DD 2=4@9@=[ 2?5 4@@<:?8 >@C6 >62=D 2E 9@>6] %96J 2C6 2=D@ 3FJ:?8 >@C6 ?FEC:6?E\C:49 7@@5D E@ 86E E96 >@DE @FE @7 E96:C >@?6J 2?5 36:?8 >@C6 :?E6?E:@?2= 23@FE H92E E96J 62E]k^Am

kAmw@H6G6C[ H9:=6 f_T @7 C6DA@?56?ED 2DD@4:2E6 64@?@>:4 D=@H5@H?D H:E9 A@D:E:G6 A6CD@?2= 962=E9 @FE4@>6D[ e`T D2J E92E >@?6J 36:?8 E:89E 9FCED E96:C 962=E9] $A64:7:42==J[ E96J 2C6 62E:?8 =6DD 6IA6?D:G6 7@@5D[ H9:49 E6?5 E@ 36 =6DD 962=E9Jj E96J 5@?’E D=66A 2D H6== 2?5 2C6 DEC6DD65j 2?5 E96J’G6 A@DEA@?65 @C 42?46=65 5@4E@C’D 2AA@:?E>6?ED]k^Am

kAm~?=J `dT @7 p>6C:42?D D2J E96 64@?@>J 92D 925 ?@ :>A24E @? E96:C 962=E9 923:ED]k^Am

k9bmt4@?@>:4 w62=E9k^9bm

kAm|@C6 p>6C:42?D D2J E96C6 2C6 >@C6 962=E9 36?67:ED E92? 5C2H324<D :? 2 5:77:4F=E 64@?@>J] w6C6’D 2 =@@< 2E H92E 86ED 36EE6C[ 2?5 H92E 86ED H@CD6[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 C6DF=ED]k^Am

k9bm"i x? H92E H2JD[ :7 2?J[ 92D E96 5@H?EFC? :? E96 64@?@>J :>A24E65 J@FC 962=E9n $6=64E 2== E92E 2AA=J]k^9bm

kAmkDEC@?8m!@D:E:G6 x>A24E @? w62=E9k^DEC@?8mk^Am

kF=mk=:madT x’G6 4FE 5@H? @? 62E:?8 @FE 2E C6DE2FC2?EDk^=:mk=:mabT x’G6 4FE 5@H? @? F?6DD6?E:2= 7@@5D[ =:<6 5:?:?8 @FE[ 2=4@9@=[ 2?5 EC62EDk^=:mk=:m`hT x’G6 925 E@ A=2? >62=D >@C6 42C67F==J[ H9:49 92D >256 >6 4@?D:56C H92E x 62E >@C6k^=:mk=:m`gT x’G6 7@4FD65 >@C6 @? 3FJ:?8 ?FEC:6?E\C:49 7@@5D E@ 86E E96 >@DE @FE @7 >J >@?6Jk^=:mk=:m`fT x’G6 6I6C4:D65 @FED:56 >@C6—7C6D9 2:C :D 4962A6C E92? 2 8J> >6>36CD9:Ak^=:mk^F=m

kAmkDEC@?8m}682E:G6 x>A24E @? w62=E9k^DEC@?8mk^Am

kF=mk=:m`hT x’> 62E:?8 =6DD 6IA6?D:G6 7@@5D[ H9:49 E6?5 E@ 36 =6DD 962=E9Jk^=:mk=:m`hT x’> DEC6DD65[ 42?’E D=66A[ @C 3@E9k^=:mk=:m`eT |J >6?E2= 962=E9 92D 56E6C:@C2E65k^=:mk=:m`dT x’> 4FEE:?8 4@C?6CD @? 8@@5 962=E9 923:ED E@ D2G6 >@?6Jk^=:mk=:m`aT x’G6 925 E@ 42?46= @C A@DEA@?6 5@4E@C’D 2AA@:?E>6?EDk^=:mk=:m``T x’G6 925 E@ BF:E 2 8J> >6>36CD9:A @C 7:E?6DD 4=2DD6D E@ D2G6 >@?6Jk^=:mk=:m``T x’G6 925 E@ E2<6 2 =6DD 4@>AC696?D:G6 962=E942C6 A=2?k^=:mk^F=m

k9bm(6==?6DD xD W|@C6X #646DD:@?\!C@@7k^9bm

kAmx? 2? 2CE:4=6 AF3=:D965 :? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E96C6256C]>:EAC6DD]>:E]65F^E96\DFCAC:D:?8\:>A24E\@7\C646DD:@?D\@?\9F>2?\962=E9^QmE96 |x% !C6DD #6256Ck^2m[ |2DD249FD6EED x?DE:EFE6 @7 %649?@=@8J AC@76DD@C |2CJ s2G:D[ !9]s][ @FE=:?6D C6D62C49 E92E DFAA@CED E96 :562 E92E C646DD:@?D DA2C< 962=E9:6C 3692G:@CD 5F6 E@ E96 D966C 7:?2?4:2= AC6DDFC6] “%96 FAD:56 @7 2 5@H? 64@?@>J :D E92E J@F 92G6 =6DD >@?6J E@ 5@ 325 E9:?8D[” D96 HC:E6D]k^Am

kAm!6@A=6 @7E6? 4FE 2=4@9@=[ 4:82C6EE6D[ 2?5 6I46DD 7@@5[ ;FDE E@ ?2>6 2 76H F?962=E9J 923:ED] u:?2?4:2= 4@?DEC2:?ED 2=D@ :?46?E:G:K6 A6@A=6 E@ H2=< >@C6 E@ 2G@:5 E96 4@DE @7 82D@=:?6[ 2?5[ 2D E96 w:>D DEF5J 2=D@ 7@F?5[ 62E @FE =6DD] q@E9 @7 E96D6 24E:@?D 42? 564C62D6 @36D:EJ C2E6D[ H9:49 :? EFC? 42? :>AC@G6 86?6C2= 962=E9 @FE4@>6D]k^Am

kAmx? 255:E:@? E@ DA6?5:?8 =6DD >@?6J :? H2JD E92E 2C6 ?@E 962=E9\DFAA@CE:G6[ p>6C:42?D 2C6 24EF2==J AFEE:?8 >@C6 >@?6J :?E@ E9:?8D E92E DFAA@CE 962=E9] x? 724E[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]9:>D]4@>^?6HD^=@?86G:EJ\:D\E96\?6H\=FIFCJQmdeT D2J E96J’C6 DA6?5:?8 >@C6 @? 962=E9 2?5 H6==?6DD E9:D J62C E92? =2DEk^2m[ DFCA2DD:?8 2== @E96C 42E68@C:6D[ DF49 2D EC2G6=[ D9@AA:?8[ 6?E6CE2:?>6?E[ 2?5 >@C6]k^Am

kAmu@C D@>6[ AC:@C:E:K:?8 962=E9 >2J 2D H6== 36 D6E :? DE@?6i ` :? d p>6C:42?D D2J E96J 5@?’E A=2? E@ 4FE 2?J 2DA64E @7 E96:C 962=E9 DA6?5:?8[ C682C5=6DD @7 H92E E96 64@?@>J 5@6D ?6IE] uFCE96C>@C6[ ghT D2J E96J H@?’E C65F46 DA6?5:?8 @? 962=E9J 7@@5D[ ggT H@?’E D42=6 324< @C 42?46= E96:C 8J> >6>36CD9:AD[ 2?5 gdT D2J E96:C DA6?5:?8 @? D<:?42C6 H@?’E 3F586]k^Am

k9bm%6=6962=E9 r2? ~77D6E w62=E942C6 r@DEDk^9bm

kAm%6=6962=E9 :D 2=C625J 8C@H:?8 :? A@AF=2C:EJ[ H:E9 fhT @7 p>6C:42?D D2J:?8 E96J’G6 FD65 DF49 D6CG:46D 7@C D@>6 2DA64E @7 E96:C 962=E942C6[ C2?8:?8 7C@> 86?6C2= 962=E9 ?665D Wb`TX E@ >6?E2= 962=E9 WacTX E@ H6:89E =@DD W`fT[ 2?5 >@C6] %9:D A6C46?E286 :D @?=J D6E E@ :?4C62D6[ 8:G6? E92E v6? +6CD 2?5 >:==6??:2=D >2<6 FA 2 =2C86C FD6C 32D6 @7 E6=6962=E9 D6CG:46D E92? v6? )6CD 2?5 323J 3@@>6CD] W$A64:7:42==J[ gaT @7 J@F?86C 86?6C2E:@?D C6A@CE FD:?8 E6=6962=E9 D6CG:46D[ G6CDFD f`T @7 @=56C 86?6C2E:@?D]Xk^Am

k9bmg :? `_ p>6C:42?D w2G6 &D65 2 %6=6962=E9 $6CG:46k^9bm

kAm%6=6962=E9 2=D@ D2G6D E:>6—2?5 2D E96 D2J:?8 8@6D[ E:>6 :D >@?6J] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^A>4]?43:]?=>]?:9]8@G^2CE:4=6D^!|rd_ddgdd^RiOiE6IEl#6DF=ED[__`X]Qmp44@C5:?8 E@ C6D62C49k^2m[ p>6C:42?D DA6?5 2? 2G6C286 @7 `ab >:?FE6D A6C 6249 5@4E@C’D 2AA@:?E>6?E[ :?4=F5:?8 bg >:?FE6D @7 EC2G6= E:>6] %96J 8@ E@ 2? 2G6C286 @7 7@FC G:D:ED A6C J62C[ H9:49 255D FA E@ D6G6C2= 9@FCD @7 “7@F?5 E:>6” E92E 4@F=5 36 FD65 :? 5:776C6?E 962=E9J H2JDk^Am

k9bmqF586E\uC:6?5=J (2JD E@ $E2J w62=E9J[ tG6? :7 E96 t4@?@>J xD?’Ek^9bm

kAmx? 255:E:@? E@ =62?:?8 :?E@ E6=6962=E9 E@ D2G6 >@?6J 2>:5 E@F89 64@?@>:4 4@?5:E:@?D[ 96C6 2C6 2 76H >@C6 E:AD @? 9@H E@ EC:> J@FC H6==?6DD 3F586E H:E9@FE 4@>AC@>:D:?8 J@FC 962=E9]k^Am

k@=mk=:mkDEC@?8m|62= AC6A]k^DEC@?8m r@@<:?8 ?FEC:6?E\56?D6 >62=D :? 25G2?46 42? D2G6 J@F >@?6J @? F?962=E9J E2<6@FE H96? J@F’C6 D9@CE @? E:>6] !=FD[ J@F 42? >2I:>:K6 =67E@G6CD]k^=:mk=:mkDEC@?8m$E@4< FA @? C646DD:@?\AC@@7 DE2A=6D]k^DEC@?8m ~2ED[ =6?E:=D[ 7C@K6? AC@5F46[ 2?5 42??65 7:D9 8@ 72C @? 2 3F586E 2?5 2C6 962=E9J 2=E6C?2E:G6D E@ 72DE 7@@5]k^=:mk=:mkDEC@?8mv@ E@ E96 “7C66” 8J>]k^DEC@?8m !2C<D[ 4:EJ DEC66ED[ 2?5 E96 DF? 2C6 2== 7C66 2?5 ;FDE 2D 67764E:G6 2D E96 8J> 2D 2 D6EE:?8 E@ CF?[ H2=<[ @C >65:E2E6] !=FD[ :E @776CD 2 7C66 G:E2>:? s DFAA=6>6?E] p>6C:42?D ?2>6 “7C6D9 2:C :?DE625 @7 7:E?6DD >6>36CD9:AD” 2D @?6 @7 E96 E@A H2JD E96:C 962=E9 92D 36?67:E65 7C@> E96 5@H?EFC? :? E96 64@?@>J]k^=:mk=:mkDEC@?8mrFE :E @FE]k^DEC@?8m x7 J@F’G6 6G6C H2?E65 E@ BF:E 2? F?962=E9J 923:E[ =:<6 D>@<:?8 @C 5C:?<:?8[ ?@H’D E96 E:>6P &D6 E96 64@?@>J 2D 2? 6I4FD6 E@ 4FE 324< @? 8F:=EJ A=62DFC6D]k^=:mk=:mkDEC@?8m%2<6 E96 =@?8 H2J]k^DEC@?8m u@C BF:4< EC:AD E@ E96 8C@46CJ DE@C6[ 5CJ 4=62?6C[ A92C>24J[ @C @E96C 52:=J @C H66<=J 6I4FCD:@?D[ H2=< :?DE625 @7 5C:G:?8] xE’D 962=E9:6C 7@C 3@E9 J@F 2?5 E96 A=2?6E]k^=:mk^@=m

k9bms2E2 U2>Aj |6E9@5@=@8Jk^9bm

kAm#6DF=ED 2C6 32D65 @? 2? pF8FDE a_ad @?=:?6 DFCG6J @7 e[hgd A6@A=6] !2CE:4:A2?ED :?4=F56 2AAC@I:>2E6=J W`X d[___ `g\E@\ed\J62C\@=5 C6DA@?56?ED :? E96 E@A d_ >6EC@A@=:E2? 2C62D W`__ C6DA@?56?ED A6C 4:EJXj WaX d[___ `g\E@\ed\J62C\@=5 C6DA@?56?ED :? 6249 @7 E96 d_ DE2E6D W`__ C6DA@?56?ED A6C DE2E6Xj 2?5 WbX 2 ?2E:@?2==J C6AC6D6?E2E:G6 D2>A=6 @7 d__ `g\E@\ed\J62C\@=5 C6DA@?56?ED E@ 4@?E6IEF2=:K6 C6DF=ED] %96D6 E9C66 42E68@C:6D 2C6 ?@E >FEF2==J 6I4=FD:G6j D@>6 C6DA@?56?ED 72== H:E9:? >@C6 E92? @?6 42E68@CJ]k^Am

kAmu:?5:?8D H6C6 2?2=JK65 3J >@C6 E92? `d_ 56>@8C2A9:4 2?5 ADJ49@8C2A9:4 4FED] %96D6 :?4=F56 4:EJ[ C68:@?[ D6=7\:56?E:7:65 86?56C[ 286[ C246 2?5 6E9?:4:EJ[ C6=2E:@?D9:A DE2EFD[ A2C6?E:?8 DE2EFD[ D6IF2= @C:6?E2E:@? W96E6C@D6IF2=[ 3:D6IF2=[ 82J[ =6D3:2?[ A2?D6IF2=[ 2D6IF2=[ BF66C[ 6E4]X[ 72?5@>D W>FD:4[ DA@CED[ 6E4]X[ 2?5 7:E?6DD 2?5 5:6E AC676C6?46D[ 2>@?8 @E96C 2C62D @7 :?E6C6DE]k^Am

kAmp== DEF5J 52E2 42AEFC65 @C:8:?2E6 7C@> E9:D D@FC46[ F?=6DD @E96CH:D6 ?@E65] x?56A6?56?E C6D62C49 7:C> rF=EFC6 r@\@A 4@?5F4E65 2?5 2?2=JK65 C6D62C49 2?5 7:?5:?8D]k^Am

kAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]9:>D]4@>^?6HD^64@?@>:4\5@H?EFC?\3@@DED\962=E9J\923:EDQmk6>m%9:D DE@CJk^6>mk^2m k6>mH2D AC@5F465 3Jk^6>m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]9:>D]4@>Qmk6>mw:>Dk^6>mk^2m k6>m2?5 C6G:6H65 2?5 5:DEC:3FE65 3Jk^6>m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^9F3D]=2^"_b<=8$#_Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQmk6>m$E24<6Ck^6>mk^2m]k^Am