Filipinos want to be healthy without exercise – SunLife study

Filipinos consider their health as most important when it comes to overall well-being, a recent study revealed, but they are also the most lazy to do regular exercise.

According to Sun Life Asia Health Index 2015, the Philippines saw an increase in the proportion of people who say that being healthy is very important to them.

From 71 percent last year, Filipinos who say health is very important grew to 89 percent this year.

But despite being the most optimistic in Asia, Filipinos are also the most worried over largely preventable conditions such as heart disease (60 percent versus 41 percent regional average) and diabetes (40 percent versus 31 percent regionally).

Canvassing the views of over 4,000 people aged between 25 and 60 years across nine markets in Asia, the study showed that nearly all, or 97 percent, of the 700 respondents in the Philippines rank their personal health as an important aspect of their lives.

Nevertheless, nearly half, or 46 percent of Filipino respondents, fall into “unhealthy” segments because they struggle with lack of time or are too easily distracted or unmotivated to take action toward a healthier lifestyle.

Based on the study, “Generation O” and “Distracted” Filipinos are least satisfied segments across all life aspects, including stress management, level of exercise and energy, quality of sleep, and level of happiness.

In 2015 report, Filipinos top the Asian region for sleeping less than six hours a day with 46 percent versus 32 percent regional average and eating unhealthily with 41 percent versus 26 percent regionally.

Both the Philippines and Indonesia, however, have the highest proportion of people (56 percent) who say they prefer to rest on the couch over exercising, behind only Hong Kong (58 percent).

Meanwhile, Riza Mantaring, Sun Life Financial Philippines, president and chief executive, said Filipinos have showed this year readiness — in terms of attitude — for self-management in maximizing personal health, compared to last year’s baseline.

“What hasn’t shifted, however, is the disconnect between the awareness that better lifestyle choices translate to improved personal health, and the action taken as a result of those choices,” Mantaring said.

About 97 percent of people in the Philippines say they know how they can improve their health further, while 93 percent say they do everything they can to maximize their health, and 96 percent say they support and encourage their family to live a healthy lifestyle.