Study: Many Americans Say They Are More Likely to Participate in a Fitness Routine If Given Opportunity to Socialize, Earn Fi...
May 30 2019 - 9:30AM
Business Wire
- Third-annual UnitedHealthcare
Wellness Checkup Survey provides insights into people’s knowledge
and opinions about various health topics, including preferences
about employer-sponsored well-being programs
- People trying to improve their
health prioritize a healthy diet, access to routine medical care,
and stopping smoking or reducing drinking
- More than half of survey respondents
said they expect to remain healthy enough to accomplish everyday
activities until 80 or older, including 11 percent saying those
tasks will “never” be an issue
- Among employees with access to a
well-being program, 57 percent said it has helped improve their
health; of these, 27 percent said the program helped detect a
disease or medical condition
More than two-thirds of Americans say an incentive of as little
as $2 per day would motivate them to devote at least an hour each
day toward improving their health, while nearly 60 percent of
people say they would be more likely to participate in a fitness
routine if the program offered an opportunity to socialize or make
friends, according to a new nationwide survey.
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The 2019 UnitedHealthcare Wellness
Checkup Survey uncovers insight into people's knowledge and
opinions about various health topics, including the impact of
employer-sponsored well-being programs (Source: 2019
UnitedHealthcare Wellness Checkup Survey).
These are some of the findings from the 2019 UnitedHealthcare
Wellness Checkup Survey, which examines people’s opinions about
health topics and preferences, offering insights to help improve
employer-sponsored well-being or disease-management programs. The
survey’s key findings include:
- Opportunities to socialize, earn
financial incentives appeal to many. More than half (57
percent) of survey respondents said they would be more likely to
consistently participate in a fitness routine if the regimen
provided a social component, either in-person or virtually. Among
employees with access to a well-being program, 67 percent said it
was important that their significant other or family members have
the opportunity to participate, too. Across all respondents, more
than two-thirds (68 percent) said an incentive of as little as $2
per day would motivate them to devote at least an hour each day
toward improving their health.
- Many people are optimistic about
remaining healthy as they age. More than half (53 percent) of
survey respondents anticipate being able to accomplish everyday
activities until 80 or older, including 11 percent saying those
tasks will “never” be an issue. Gen Xers – defined as people
between 39 and 54 years old – were the most optimistic, with nearly
three-quarters (74 percent) expecting to maintain their health
beyond 80, including 15 percent saying health issues will never
prevent them from accomplishing everyday tasks. However, one study
concluded that 42 percent of Americans 80 or older have functional
limitations, such as the inability to walk a flight of stairs.
- Healthy diet, access to medical care
and stopping smoking top priorities. Survey respondents
considered a healthy diet, such as eating fruits and vegetables, as
the top priority when trying to improve their health, with a mean
score of 4.5 (5 being “extremely important”). That was followed by
access to routine medical care, such as an annual physical (4.4);
stopping smoking and/or reducing drinking (4.4); getting sufficient
sleep (4.3); engaging in strength or cardiovascular training (4.3);
increasing social activity (3.7); and improving mindfulness
(3.6).
- Most people underestimate the
connection between lifestyle choices and chronic conditions.
About one-fifth (22 percent) of survey respondents correctly
recognized that 80 percent or more of the incidence of premature
chronic conditions, such as heart disease, stroke and diabetes, are
generally caused by modifiable lifestyle choices, such as risk
factors like smoking or obesity, as opposed to being caused by
genetic factors. More than one-third (38 percent) thought between
50 percent and 79 percent of premature chronic conditions were
caused by lifestyle choices, while 32 percent said genetics were to
blame for more than half of these diseases.
“This year employers are expected to invest an average of more
than $3.6 million1 on their respective well-being programs, and
over 60 percent of employees2 are interested in engaging in these
initiatives. The UnitedHealthcare Wellness Checkup Survey provides
insights that we hope can be helpful to enhance the design and
implementation of well-being programs, which may help improve
employees’ health, reduce absenteeism and curb care costs,” said
Rebecca Madsen, UnitedHealthcare chief consumer officer.
Many U.S. companies are investing in wellness programs, with
more than two-thirds (67 percent) of companies planning to expand
these initiatives during the next few years, according to a recent
study by the National Business Group on Health. A separate study
published in The American Journal of Cardiology concluded that one
employer’s well-being initiative generated a six-fold return on
investment and reduced health risks for people enrolled in the
program.
Many Employees Say Well-being Programs Have Improved Their
Health, ProductivityMore than half (57 percent) of people with
access to wellness programs said the initiatives have made a
positive impact on their health. Of these, 82 percent said they
were motivated to pay more attention to their health; 63 percent
said they increased physical activity; 59 percent improved their
diet; and 30 percent reported improved sleep. More than one-quarter
(27 percent) said the program helped detect a disease or medical
condition, while 8 percent said they stopped smoking or using
nicotine.
In regard to job performance among those who said the well-being
program made a positive impact on their health, 50 percent said the
initiative helped reduce stress; 49 percent reported improved
productivity; and 35 percent said they took fewer sick days. About
one-quarter (26 percent) reported no impact on job performance.
Among employees without access to wellness programs, 70 percent
of respondents said they would be interested in such initiatives if
offered, including 43 percent who are “very interested.” More than
three-quarters (77 percent) of Gen Xers said they wanted access to
a well-being program, more so than any other age group.
About the SurveyThe UnitedHealthcare Wellness Checkup
Survey was conducted April 11-15, 2019, using the Engine Telephone
CARAVAN® survey among a landline and mobile phone probability
sample of 1,000 adults ages 18 and older living in the continental
United States. The margin of error was plus or minus 3.1 percent at
the 95 percent confidence level. For complete survey results, click
here.
About
UnitedHealthcareUnitedHealthcare is dedicated to helping
people live healthier lives and making the health system work
better for everyone by simplifying the health care experience,
meeting consumer health and wellness needs, and sustaining trusted
relationships with care providers. In the United States,
UnitedHealthcare offers the full spectrum of health benefit
programs for individuals, employers, and Medicare and Medicaid
beneficiaries, and contracts directly with more than 1.3 million
physicians and care professionals, and 6,000 hospitals and other
care facilities nationwide. The company also provides health
benefits and delivers care to people through owned and operated
health care facilities in South America. UnitedHealthcare is one of
the businesses of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH), a diversified
health care company. For more information, visit UnitedHealthcare
at www.uhc.com or follow @UHC on Twitter.
1 National Business Group on Health,
2019https://www.businessgrouphealth.org/news/nbgh-news/press-releases/press-release-details/?ID=355
2 Rand Corporation, Incentives for Workplace Wellness Programs,
2015https://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/research_briefs/RB9800/RR9842/RAND_RB9842.pdf
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Will ShanleyUnitedHealthcare(714)
204-8005will.shanley@uhc.com
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