Good diet. Moderate exercise. A recommended body fat percentage. Not smoking. Odds are, you're not doing it right.
Researchers from Oregon State University and the University of Mississippi used these four basic parameters to define healthy behavior and determine how many people adhere to them. These characteristics were selected because they are general, basic advice that doctors use to advise patients. They are qualities that help prevent cardiovascular disease, cancer and diabetes.
Unfortunately, according to the findings, only 2.7 percent of all adults met all four healthy lifestyle characteristics, 16 percent had three of the categories, 37 percent had two, 34 percent had one, and 11 percent had none. An excerpt from the study explains:
“The purpose of this study was 2-fold. First was to estimate the prevalence of fundamental healthy lifestyle characteristics, namely, regular physical activity, normal body fat percentage, healthy diet, and abstaining from smoking, across age, sex, and race/ethnicity for adults living in the United States. Second was to examine the association between different subsets of jointly occurring healthy lifestyle characteristics and cardiovascular disease biomarkers related to cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood sugar."
The study relied on a large survey from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, which canvassed 4,745 people. “We weren't looking for marathon runners," said Ellen Smit, the study's senior author as well as a associate professor in the OSU College of Public Health and Human Sciences. “This is pretty low, to have so few people maintaining what we would consider a healthy lifestyle. This is sort of mind boggling. There's clearly a lot of room for improvement."
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Grieving couple comforting each other
This response to someone grieving a friend might be the best internet comment ever
When someone is hit with the sudden loss of a friend or loved one, words rarely feel like enough. Yet, more than a decade ago, a wise Redditor named GSnow shared thoughts so profound they still bring comfort to grieving hearts today.
Originally posted around 2011, the now-famous reply was rediscovered when Upvoted, an official Reddit publication, featured it again to remind everyone of its enduring truth. It began as a simple plea for help: “My friend just died. I don't know what to do.”
What followed was a piece of writing that many consider one of the internet’s best comments of all time. It remains shared across social media, grief forums, and personal messages to this day because its honesty and metaphor speak to the raw reality of loss and the slow, irregular path toward healing.
Below is GSnow’s full reply, unchanged, in all its gentle, wave-crashing beauty:
Why this advice still matters
Mental health professionals and grief counselors often describe bereavement in stages or phases, but GSnow’s “wave theory” gives an image more relatable for many. Rather than a linear process, grief surges and retreats—sometimes triggered by a song, a place, or a simple morning cup of coffee.
In recent years, this metaphor has found renewed relevance. Communities on Reddit, TikTok, and grief support groups frequently reshare it to help explain the unpredictable nature of mourning.
Many readers say this analogy helps them feel less alone, giving them permission to ride each wave of grief rather than fight it.
Finding comfort in shared wisdom
Since this comment first surfaced, countless people have posted their own stories underneath it, thanking GSnow and passing the words to others facing fresh heartbreak. It’s proof that sometimes, the internet can feel like a global support group—strangers linked by shared loss and hope.
For those searching for more support today, organizations like The Dougy Center, GriefShare, and local bereavement groups offer compassionate resources. If you or someone you know is struggling with intense grief, please reach out to mental health professionals who can help navigate these deep waters.
When grief comes crashing like the ocean, remember these words—and hang on. There is life between the waves.
This article originally appeared four years ago.