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Free YMCA Wellness Events
In support of individuals and families struggling to make healthierchoices, Amway Global and the YMCA are hosting free wellness events open tothe public at select YMCAs on Sept. 20, 2008, as part of America On the MoveWeek. As a first step, health seekers can go to http://www.inspirewellness.comand take the Stanford Health and Lifestyle Assessment. Then, they can bringtheir summary reports to a local YMCA to talk with a health and wellness staffmember about steps they can take toward a healthier life. Go tohttp://www.inspirewellness.com for a list of participating YMCAs inConnecticut.
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Connecticut Wellness Challenges:
Exercise
The survey shows that 17 percent of Connecticut residents, versus23 percent nationally, are not exercising for at least 30 minutes or more at atime on a regular basis. While residents are exercising more than the nationalaverage, that's well under the Centers for Disease Control (CDC)recommendation of a minimum of 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physicalactivity per day or a minimum of 20 minutes of vigorous-intensity physicalactivity three days a week. When it comes to the work commute, 88 percent ofConnecticut residents drive or use public transportation. When they doexercise, the focus is on general wellness (37 percent), cardiovascularendurance (28 percent) and weight loss (16 percent).
Stress
Forty-one percent of Connecticut residents report having a "very" or"somewhat" high stress level, according to the Amway Global Wellness Index.Fifty-two percent of Connecticut residents find that talking to family andfriends is a highly effective way of coping with their stress. Increasingphysical activity (43 percent) and sleep (36 percent) also top the list, while22 percent turn to food for comfort and 20 percent shop. Only 8 percent ofresidents decrease the time they spend using technology gadgets to reducestress.
Sleep
While 45 percent of Connecticut residents report that not getting enoughexercise is one of the biggest wellness challenges, 29 percent also reportgetting enough sleep as a major challenge. Only 9 percent of Connecticutresidents judge their current state of wellness by the amount of sleep theyget.
Weight
Forty-four percent of Connecticut residents consider themselves obese oroverweight, yet only 21 percent of Connecticut respondents gauge their stateof wellness by their current weight.
The Election, Economy and Wellness
Thirty percent of Connecticut residents and 33 percent of Americans claimthat the candidates' positions on personal wellness will influence how theyvote this election. Additionally, 42 percent of Americans, versus 39 percentof Connecticut residents, report that the economy is having a negative impacton their wellness choices. For the nation, current economic conditions alsoare 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 thesexes, the health of women is affected more by the economy (44 percent) thanmen (40 percent).
About the Amway Global Wellness Index
The Amway Global Wellness Index is a national survey of 15,035 Americanadults ages 18 and older to uncover American views toward the concept ofwellness and individual, family and community wellne
