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Survey shows Florida residents are less stressed than national average Survey shows Florida residents are less stressed than national averagePOSTED 09/17/08 - While 93 percent of Americans report attempting to make everyday choices to be healthy and live well, nearly half (47 percent) of Florida residents say they struggle to do so, according to the Amway Global Wellness Index, a recent national survey of more than
Florida Wellness Challenges:StressThirty-five percent of Floridians report having a "very" or "somewhat" high stress level, according to the Amway Global Wellness Index, compared to the national average (40 percent). Forty-five percent of Florida 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 (32 percent) also top the list, while 21 percent practice yoga and 15 percent turn to food for comfort. Only 7 percent of residents decrease the time they spend using technology gadgets to reduce stress. ExerciseThe survey shows that 25 percent of Florida residents, versus 23 percent nationally, 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, 91 percent of Florida residents drive or use public transportation. However, when they do exercise, the focus is on general wellness (35 percent), cardiovascular endurance (28 percent) and weight loss (16 percent). SleepWhile 40 percent of Florida residents report that not getting enough exercise is one of the biggest wellness challenges, 27 percent also report getting enough sleep as a major challenge. Only 9 percent of Floridians judge their current state of wellness by the amount of sleep they get. WeightForty percent of Florida residents consider themselves obese or overweight, yet only 23 percent of Florida respondents gauge their state of wellness by their current weight. The Election, Economy and WellnessThirty-six percent of Floridians and 33 percent of Americans claim that the candidates' positions on personal wellness will influence how they vote this election. Additionally, 44 percent of Floridians, versus 42 of Americans, 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, go to http://www.inspirewellness.com Free YMCA Wellness Events 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, 2008, as part of America On the Move Week. As a first step, health seekers can go to http://www.inspirewellness.com 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 http://www.inspirewellness.com for a list of participating YMCAs in Florida. |
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