GfK Survey on Ways Consumers Maintain Health

GfK asked consumers in 23 countries what activities they regularly engage in to maintain their physical health, and, on a global basis, getting enough sleep topped eating healthy food, exercising, or taking vitamins.
 
But in the United States, spending time with family, friends, or pets was the most commonly cited health-related activity, reported by seven in 10 (71%) consumers as compared to a global average of 53%. The high proportion in the US was partly driven by women (78%, to 63% for men) and people aged 60 and above (77%, compared to 66% for people ages 30 to 39), noted GfK.
 
In addition, two-thirds (67%) of US respondents reported having a regular oral care routine, compared to 54% globally. US women also scored higher than men here (73% vs. 61%), and the 50-to-59 (74%) and 60+ (72%) age groups were the only ones to hit levels of 70% or above, said GfK.
 
Getting enough sleep was the third most-cited health activity in the US, at 62% , slightly below the global average of 66%.
 
GfK’s survey also found that global women are more than two times more likely than global men to regularly use sunscreen in order to maintain physical health (42 vs.18%). Brazilian consumers are in the lead on sunscreen use at a national level (46%), followed by Canada and South Korea (both at 43%). Australia and Spain both trail at 42%.
 
For the survey, GfK interviewed more than 28,000 consumers aged 15 or older in 23 countries either online or face-to-face in summer 2014. The countries included are Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Poland, Russia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, UK, Ukraine and USA.