Medifast, the global company behind one the fastest-growing health and wellness communities, OPTAVIA, today released findings from a nationally representative study on consumer health priorities and motivators.
In a survey from December 2020, the company found 63% of Americans had adopted new, positive health routines amid the pandemic, 96% of whom planned to continue embracing healthy habits in the new year. This new study, which surveyed 1,230 U.S. adults, found that almost all U.S. adults (93%) have health and wellness goals and 84% are actively working toward achieving them.
Health Goals:
- Many of the goals respondents rated as being important to them focus on improving physical health, including wanting to fuel their body with a more healthy, balanced diet (87%) and exercising regularly (85%).
- 86% of U.S. adults say focusing on mindfulness and their mental health is an important goal for them.
Motivators:
- The #1 reason U.S. adults want to prioritize their health and wellness is to feel better, both physically and mentally (76%).
- The biggest motivator for staying consistent with health and wellness goals is feeling good, mentally, and physically (67%) – defined by having more energy and reducing stress and anxiety.
- Additionally, 55% of Americans say that seeing physical results motivates them to stay on top of their health and wellness goals.
Other notable findings include:
- The sources people are most likely to turn to for support are their doctors and/or healthcare providers (40%), family (32%), and friends (25%).
- Despite wanting to prioritize mental wellness, 78% of Americans are currently not practicing meditation, breathing, or other mindfulness exercises in order to achieve their health and wellness goals.
- Just under half (46%) of U.S. adults are working toward achieving their health and wellness goals by moving their bodies through low-intensity workouts or new and/or adventurous activities.
- Men are more likely than women to prioritize their health and wellness in order to look better physically (46% of men vs. 39% of women).
Edited by Maryssa Gordon, Senior Editor, Price of Business Digital Network