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Americans
Want Good Looks
& Health Without Any Effort
NEW
YORK (Reuters Health) - Almost all American adults believe that
being healthy and looking good are important, according to the
results of a new survey. Yet many don't do anything to attain
these goals. One out of four Americans admit they either do not
maintain a regular fitness routine, or hate exercising if they
do.
``It's an
interesting disconnect between attitudes and behavior,'' said
Bill Howland, director of research at The International Health,
Racquet & Sportsclub Association, which commissioned the poll.
Roper Starch
Worldwide conducted the ``Fitness American Style'' survey, an
eight-page questionnaire on opinions about exercise and physical
and mental health.
The survey
of 1,200 US adults found that 97% said ''maintaining good physical
health'' is their most important priority, closely followed by
``keeping up physical appearance'' at 91%. Both ranked slightly
higher than reducing stress or having a lot of money and a good
job.
Paradoxically,
those polled also said that eating well, exercising enough and
becoming more fit were less important objectives--leaving open
the question as to how these people might actually achieve their
top goals.
One out of
five Americans--primarily young, single men--report that they
do exercise for the fun and camaraderie of it, but feel they don't
have enough time to do as much as they would like. Under 10% of
mostly older, higher income, college-educated women report that
they exercise to stay in shape, to help with a medical condition,
or to ward off illness.
About half
of all Americans appear to be divided between extreme habits.
On one end of the spectrum are the 13%--mostly high-income moms--who
are twice as likely as the average adult to be a member of a fitness
club and exercise for their emotional and physical well-being.
On the other end are the married average-income moms who are out
of shape because they either hate exercising (14%) or are undisciplined
(12%)--joined by equally out of shape married men who pride themselves
on not falling for the ``fitness craze'' (13%).
Despite the
pull of the couch-potato constituency, most Americans say they
do believe fitness clubs are fun and worth the money. Less than
half see the clubs as settings for only young, already-in-shape
swinging singles. And whatever the motivation for joining, those
who are members of a gym generally spoke of feeling more in control
of their lives, more outgoing and more competitive than did non-members.
``Regular
participants in fitness activities say that exercise has both
great physical and emotional benefits and positively affects their
overall mental energy, stress levels and physical energy,'' Howland
told Reuters Health. ``In fact, club members clearly see the benefit
of a more holistic approach to maintaining their health.''
Howland added
that with obesity on the rise, it is important to encourage all
Americans to get off the couch and into a gym. He suggested that
the survey may allay fears and inspire those still resisting the
call of the treadmill by dispelling stereotypes that the local
gym is the exclusive preserve of beautiful people and unattainable
goals. ``Buff, hard bodies, attention-grabbing outfits, women
with caked-on makeup and rippling torsos are no longer the picture
of fitness clubs today.''
Reference
Source 89
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