Medifast, a health and wellness company known for its coach-guided weight management service, announced findings from a consumer survey it conducted on the role that “self-care” plays in consumers’ health goals, including how they perceive and practice it.
 
In 2,000 nationally-representative U.S. adults, eight in 10 indicated that practicing daily self-care habits is a priority, with 64% thinking self-care as balancing all aspects of health or creating habits that contribute to overall wellbeing. Respondents identified exercise (33%), sleep (28%), and their mental and emotional health (27%) as the primary areas requiring the most attention and care.
 
Forty-one percent have let self-care practices falter over the past year, with many citing difficulties balancing all aspects of their health. Those who struggled to prioritize self-care cited household chores and responsibilities (56%), family (49%), and work (47%) as the leading obstacles.
 
The top self-care habits repsondents practiced included staying hydrated (48%), having a positive mindset (46%), going outside (43%), getting quality sleep (36%), and exercising regularly (33%). Sixty percent of U.S. adults said that it was important to have support from others to be able to prioritize self-care. Meanwhile, 52% of respondents said ‘self-care days’ are only temporary fixes compared to practicing smaller daily habits.
 
“We are living in a world where the quest for optimal health and wellbeing is often a difficult, solitary and overwhelming journey for most people. Lack of time coupled with an abundance of information and products that promise quick fixes adds to the challenges of getting healthy,” said Dan Chard, chairman and CEO of Medifast. “These findings reaffirm consumers’ desire to achieve optimal health and wellbeing and highlight their need for simple yet effective approaches that allow them to create daily habits – from incorporating more movement to getting quality sleep.”
 
“Dedicated, consistent self-care supports health and wellbeing by building a foundation of healthy habits, which are the cornerstone of lifestyle changes,” said Satya Jonnalagadda, PhD, MBA, RDN, vice president of scientific and clinical affairs at Medifast. “Dedicated, consistent self-care supports health and wellbeing by building a foundation of healthy habits, which are the cornerstone of lifestyle changes,” said Satya Jonnalagadda, vice president of scientific and clinical affairs at Medifast. “No matter where you are in your journey, incorporating health-promoting behaviors into your daily routine can help reduce stress, provide proper nutrition, ensure quality sleep and more.”