Efforts to help Americans change unhealthy
lifestyle behaviors have run up against a new brick
wall: Americans don’t see a need to change. In a recent
survey, three quarters of those polled said they were
"generally satisfied" with their health,
according to an AP story
published in April by The
Nando Times.
In contrast, the federal government
reports that upwards of 6-in-10 Americans are overweight
and too inactive, factors that put individuals at
greater risk for developing chronic diseases. The
poll was conducted by Roper Starch Worldwide for the
International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association.
After measuring attitudes about exercise,
Roper Starch clustered respondents into 6 categories.
Among these, the Abracadabras feel exercise is a good
idea, but they don’t have the time for it. Instead,
they are waiting for the a miracle cure that will
save them the effort. Fourteen percent fit this category.
Also aware of the benefits of exercise,
the Woulda-Shoulda’s suffer from a lack of motivation.
At the other end, the Sitcom Skeptics see exercise
as unnecessary. These categories represent 12 and
13 percent of the survey respondents, respectively.
By IRA DREYFUSS, Associated Press
