Study: Many Americans Say They Are More Likely to Participate in a Fitness Routine If Given Opportunity to Socialize, Earn Financial Incentives | Business Wire

MINNETONKA, Minn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–More than two-thirds of Americans say an incentive of as little as $2

per day would motivate them to devote at least an hour each day toward

improving their health, while nearly 60 percent of people say they would

be more likely to participate in a fitness routine if the program

offered an opportunity to socialize or make friends, according to a new

nationwide survey.

These are some of the findings from the 2019 UnitedHealthcare Wellness

Checkup Survey, which examines people’s opinions about health topics

and preferences, offering insights to help improve employer-sponsored

well-being or disease-management programs. The survey’s key findings

include:

• Opportunities to socialize, earn financial incentives appeal to

  many. More than half (57 percent) of survey respondents said they

  would be more likely to consistently participate in a fitness routine

  if the regimen provided a social component, either in-person or

  virtually. Among employees with access to a well-being program, 67

  percent said it was important that their significant other or family

  members have the opportunity to participate, too. Across all

  respondents, more than two-thirds (68 percent) said an incentive of as

  little as $2 per day would motivate them to devote at least an hour

  each day toward improving their health.

• Many people are optimistic about remaining healthy as they age. More

  than half (53 percent) of survey respondents anticipate being able to

  accomplish everyday activities until 80 or older, including 11 percent

  saying those tasks will “never” be an issue. Gen Xers – defined as

  people between 39 and 54 years old – were the most optimistic, with

  nearly three-quarters (74 percent) expecting to maintain their health

  beyond 80, including 15 percent saying health issues will never

  prevent them from accomplishing everyday tasks. However, one

  study

  concluded that 42 percent of Americans 80 or older have

  functional limitations, such as the inability to walk a flight of

  stairs.

• Healthy diet, access to medical care and stopping smoking top

  priorities. Survey respondents considered a healthy diet, such as

  eating fruits and vegetables, as the top priority when trying to

  improve their health, with a mean score of 4.5 (5 being “extremely

  important”). That was followed by access to routine medical care, such

  as an annual physical (4.4); stopping smoking and/or reducing drinking

  (4.4); getting sufficient sleep (4.3); engaging in strength or

  cardiovascular training (4.3); increasing social activity (3.7); and

  improving mindfulness (3.6).

• Most people underestimate the connection between lifestyle choices

  and chronic conditions. About one-fifth (22 percent) of survey

  respondents correctly recognized that 80

  percent or more of the incidence of premature chronic conditions

  ,

  such as heart disease, stroke and diabetes, are generally caused by

  modifiable lifestyle choices, such as risk factors like smoking or

  obesity, as opposed to being caused by genetic factors. More than

  one-third (38 percent) thought between 50 percent and 79 percent of

  premature chronic conditions were caused by lifestyle choices, while

  32 percent said genetics were to blame for more than half of these

  diseases.

“This year employers are expected to invest an average of more than $3.6

million¹ on their respective well-being programs, and over 60

percent of employees² are interested in engaging in these

initiatives. The UnitedHealthcare Wellness Checkup Survey

provides insights that we hope can be helpful to enhance the design and

implementation of well-being programs, which may help improve employees’

health, reduce absenteeism and curb care costs,” said Rebecca Madsen,

UnitedHealthcare chief consumer officer.

Many U.S. companies are investing in wellness programs, with more than

two-thirds (67 percent) of companies planning to expand these

initiatives during the next few years, according to a recent

study

by the National Business Group on Health. A separate

study

published in The American Journal of Cardiology concluded that

one employer’s well-being initiative generated a six-fold return on

investment and reduced health risks for people enrolled in the program.

Many Employees Say Well-being Programs Have Improved Their Health,

Productivity
More than half (57 percent) of people with

access to wellness programs said the initiatives have made a positive

impact on their health. Of these, 82 percent said they were motivated to

pay more attention to their health; 63 percent said they increased

physical activity; 59 percent improved their diet; and 30 percent

reported improved sleep. More than one-quarter (27 percent) said the

program helped detect a disease or medical condition, while 8 percent

said they stopped smoking or using nicotine.

In regard to job performance among those who said the well-being program

made a positive impact on their health, 50 percent said the initiative

helped reduce stress; 49 percent reported improved productivity; and 35

percent said they took fewer sick days. About one-quarter (26 percent)

reported no impact on job performance.

Among employees without access to wellness programs, 70 percent of

respondents said they would be interested in such initiatives if

offered, including 43 percent who are “very interested.” More than

three-quarters (77 percent) of Gen Xers said they wanted access to a

well-being program, more so than any other age group.

About the Survey
The UnitedHealthcare Wellness Checkup

Survey was conducted April 11-15, 2019, using the Engine Telephone

CARAVAN® survey among a landline and mobile phone probability sample of

1,000 adults ages 18 and older living in the continental United States.

The margin of error was plus or minus 3.1 percent at the 95 percent

confidence level. For complete survey results, click

here

.

About UnitedHealthcare
UnitedHealthcare

is dedicated to helping people live healthier lives and making the

health system work better for everyone by simplifying the health care

experience, meeting consumer health and wellness needs, and sustaining

trusted relationships with care providers. In the United States,

UnitedHealthcare offers the full spectrum of health benefit programs for

individuals, employers, and Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, and

contracts directly with more than 1.3 million physicians and care

professionals, and 6,000 hospitals and other care facilities nationwide.

The company also provides health benefits and delivers care to people

through owned and operated health care facilities in South America.

UnitedHealthcare is one of the businesses of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:

UNH), a diversified health care company. For more information, visit

UnitedHealthcare at www.uhc.com

or follow @UHC on Twitter.

¹ National Business Group on Health, 2019
https://www.businessgrouphealth.org/news/nbgh-news/press-releases/press-release-details/?ID=355

² Rand Corporation, Incentives for Workplace Wellness

Programs, 2015
https://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/research_briefs/RB9800/RR9842/RAND_RB9842.pdf

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