A new survey conducted by Medifast, the parent company of health and wellness company Optavia, offered some optimistic findings regarding the U.S. population’s overall attitude and motivation to improve health.
 
In a survey the company conducted in December 2020, 63% of Americans reported that they had adopted a new, positive health routine amid the pandemic. 96% of those who adopted new routines intended to continue embracing healthy habits in the new year.
 
Six months into 2021, a follow-up survey conducted across 1,230 U.S. adults found that almost all U.S. adults (93%) have health and wellness goals, and 84% report that they are actively working toward achieving them. Many of the goal-oriented respondents mentioned goals about improving their physical health – 87% said they want to fuel their body with a more healthy, balanced diet, and 85% said they want to exercise regularly. 86% of U.S. adults also said that focusing on mindfulness and mental health is an important goal for them.
 
76% of respondents want to prioritize their health and wellness simply to feel better, both physically and mentally, the company said. U.S. respondents were most likely (67%) to define feeling good as having more energy, and reducing stress and anxiety. Additionally, 55% of Americans say that seeing physical results motivates them to stay on top of their health and wellness goals.
 
Other findings in the survey indicated that the sources people are most likely to turn to for support in their goals are doctors and/or healthcare providers (40%), family (32%), and friends (25%). Despite wanting to prioritize mental wellness in large figures, 78% of Americans are not currently practicing meditation, breathing, or other mindfulness exercises in order to achieve their health and wellness goals.
 
46% of U.S. adults are currently using low-intensity workouts and/or new adventurous activities to support their health goals, the survey indicated. Additionally, the survey found a general difference between genders, with men most likely to prioritize their health and wellness to look better physically than women (46% of men vs. 39% of women).
 
“Even throughout a challenging time, we saw Americans adopting new, healthy habits,” Dan Chard, chairman and CEO of Medifast, said. “Now, the majority of U.S. adults have health goals and are actively working toward them. This is not only a result of the physical, mental, and emotional challenges of the past year but, more importantly, a clear indicator of the shift in consumer mindsets and prioritization of their health – both mind and body.”