But when it comes to what they actually do on a regular basis, the only things Boomers over 50 say they do are drink plenty of water, take vitamins and get routine healthcare. ; They do not exercise regularly or eat a balanced diet.
When asked about the importance of several activities to staying healthy, two-thirds of Boomers over 50 said regular exercise and eating a balanced diet were very important. ; 65% of Boomers over 50 also said drinking plenty of water is very important.
Yet, when asked how often they do those activities, only 21% of Boomers over 50 said they exercised regularly, and only 28% said they eat a balanced diet. ; However, 44% said they drink plenty of water, 49% said they get routine healthcare and 50% take vitamins (see chart below).
« Boomers over 50 may be healthier, wealthier and better educated than any previous generation of 50-year-olds in American history, » said Matt Thornhill, ;president of the Boomer Project. ; « But they also may be poised for a big fall if all they do to stay healthy is drink designer water and pop vitamins all day long. »
The research also found that Boomers ages 41-50 and Young Adults, those 18-40 years old, scored similarly to older Boomers on knowing what is important to staying healthy and how often they do those things, with the exception of taking vitamins. ; Those under 50 are less likely to take vitamins regularly.
« These results certainly mix good news with bad. ; Clearly Boomers know what to do to stay healthy. ; But they just aren’t doing it, » said Thornhill. « This gap between knowledge and action must be bridged, and fast. »
Chart: Boomers Age 50+
To stay healthy …
; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; Very Important to Do ; ; ; Actually Do All the Time
Exercise Regularly ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;67% ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; 21%
Eat a Balanced Diet ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;67% ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; 28%
Drink Plenty of Water ; ; ; ; ; ; ; 65% ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; 44%
Watch My Weight ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;64% ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; 27%
Get Routine Healthcare ; ; ; ; ; ;63% ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; 49%
Get Enough Sleep ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; 63% ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; 29%
Watch What I Eat ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; 61% ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; 28%
Take Vitamins ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; 45% ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; 50%
Limit Calories ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;44% ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; 16%
Questions:
How important do you believe the following activities are to staying healthy? ; Results are percentage who said « very important. »
How often do you do these activities? ; Results are percentage who said « do all the time. »
More information is available at http://www.boomerproject.com
Contact: Matt Thornhill, 804-690-4837.
This release was issued through eReleases(TM).
SOURCE Boomer Project
Web Site: http://www.boomerproject.com