ADA – About half the adults in Michigan say they struggle to make everyday choices to be healthy and live well, far below the national average of 93 percent. The two main barriers preventing them from doing so are lack of time and the cost associated with eating a balanced diet, contends the Amway Global Wellness Index, a recent national survey of more than 15,000 Americans regarding their health and wellness.
In support of individuals and families struggling to make healthier
choices, Amway Global and the YMCA are hosting free wellness events open to
the public at select YMCAs on Sept. 20 as part of America On the
Move Week.
As a first step, health seekers can go to
and take the Stanford Health and Lifestyle
Assessment. Then, they can bring their summary reports to a local YMCA to
talk with a health and wellness staff member about steps they can take
toward a healthier life. Go to InspireWellness.Com for a list of
participating YMCAs in Michigan.
Michigan Wellness Challenges:
Exercise
The survey shows that 25 percent of Michigan residents, versus 23
percent of Americans, are not exercising for at least 30 minutes or more at
a time on a regular basis. That’s well under the Centers for Disease
Control (CDC) recommendation of a minimum of 30 minutes of
moderate-intensity physical activity per day or a minimum of 20 minutes of
vigorous-intensity physical activity three days a week. When it comes to
the work commute, 89 percent of Michigan residents drive or use public
transportation. However, when they do exercise, the focus is on general
wellness (27 percent), cardiovascular endurance (26 percent) and weight
loss (20 percent).
Stress
Forty percent of Michigan report having a “very” or “somewhat” high
stress level, according to the Amway Global Wellness Index. Forty percent
of Michigan residents find that talking to family and friends is a highly
effective way of coping with their stress. Increasing physical activity (32
percent) and sleep (22 percent) also top the list, while 15 percent turn to
food for comfort and 15 percent practice yoga. Only 8 percent of residents
decrease the time they spend using technology gadgets to reduce stress.
Sleep
While 41 percent of Michigan residents report that not getting enough
exercise is one of the biggest wellness challenges, 31 percent also report
getting enough sleep as a major challenge. Only 12 percent of Michiganites
judge their current state of wellness by the amount of sleep they get.
Weight
Forty-eight percent of Michigan residents consider themselves obese or
overweight, yet only 22 percent of Michigan survey respondents gauge their
state of wellness by their current weight.
The Election, Economy and Wellness
Thirty-four percent of Michiganites and 33 percent of Americans claim
that the candidates’ positions on personal wellness will influence how they
vote this election. Additionally, 42 percent of Americans, versus 43
percent of Michiganites, report that the economy is having a negative
impact on their wellness choices. For the nation, current economic
conditions also are negatively affecting the wellness of 51 percent of
non-working parents, versus 43 percent of working parents. And, when it
comes to the battle of the sexes, the health of women is affected more by
the economy (44 percent) than men (40 percent).
About the Amway Global Wellness Index
The Amway Global Wellness Index is a national survey of 15,035 American
adults ages 18 and older to uncover American views toward the concept of
wellness and individual, family and community wellness. Commissioned by
Amway Global, the study has an estimated margin of error of +/-0.8
percentage points at the 95 percent confidence level. For more information
and state-specific statistics, click on InspireWellness.Com
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