Food and fitness prove a poor mix.

• Position: YOUR LIFE - Brief article

American adults who prepare their own meals and exercise on the same day likely are spending more time on one of those activities at the expense of the other, according to a study from Ohio State University, Columbus.

Research shows that a 10-minute increase in food preparation time is associated with a lower probability of exercising for 10 more minutes--for men and women. The finding applies to single and married adults as well as parents and those who have no children. The average person spent less than an hour on both exercise and food preparation on the same day.

"As the amount of time men and women spend on food preparation increases, the likelihood that those same people will exercise more decreases," confirms lead author Rachel Tumin, doctoral student in epidemiology.

The findings suggest that public health recommendations should not be made in isolation of one another, but ought to take into account the time available to...