According to the results of a recent survey, eight out of 10 consumers in the Asia-Pacific region want to kick unhealthy lifestyle habits they developed during the pandemic.
In particular, eating an unbalanced diet (53%), not exercising regularly (53%), and not getting adequate sleep (52%) emerged as the top three unhealthy habits they plan to break in the next 12 months.
The survey also showed that poorer stamina or fitness levels, excess weight gain, and a weaker immune system are the most common negative impacts resulting from the unhealthy lifestyle habits adopted in the last two years.
Among those who reported gaining excess weight, over half (51%) put on 3-5kg, while 21% added 6-10kg, mostly attributed to:
- eating too much unhealthy food (53%);
- binge-eating due to stress (53%);
- not getting enough sleep (29%); and
- consuming alcohol on a more frequent basis (13%).
The Asia Pacific Personal Habits Survey was conducted by Herbalife Nutrition in August and polled 5,500 consumers aged 18 and above in Australia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.
It aimed to uncover the changes to lifestyle behaviours of consumers in the region since the start of the pandemic, and the unhealthy habits they plan to kick in the next 12 months, affecting the following:
Dietary/nutrition: Seven out of 10 consumers (69%) picked up unhealthy dietary or nutrition habits during the pandemic, with incessant snacking topping the list of bad eating trends. The survey also revealed that Gen Z and Millennial segments were more likely to pick up such bad habits, compared with older generations such as Gen X and boomers (79% versus 59%).
Exercise: There were marked changes in activity with about one-third (33%) of respondents exercising more, while nearly half (46%) admitted they had stopped exercising or become less active. Many of the latter attributed this to lack of motivation, as they were preoccupied with anxieties arising from the pandemic.
Sleep: On average, more than half of respondents (56%) said their sleep was affected, such as having irregular sleeping patterns or trouble falling asleep, citing stress as the main reason. Compared with older generations, more Gen Z and Millennials have experienced negative changes in sleep habits.
Positive changes
With the impact of the above keenly felt among consumers in the Asia-Pacific, it is no surprise that eight out of 10 intend to make positive lifestyle changes in the next 12 months, focusing on improving both physical and mental health. These include:
- being more consciously active (58%);
- eating more nutritious foods (56%);
- developing an exercise regime (53%);
- starting a regular sleep schedule (49%);
- finding ways to destress (46%); and
- taking nutritional supplements (29%).
Those surveyed also recognise the need for support groups in achieving their goals. This is strongest among Gen Z and Millennials, with 60% feeling a support group would be extremely or very important in helping them achieve positive lifestyle changes.
In general, respondents agreed that a support group would enable them to:
- tap into sharing of knowledge and expertise (58%);
- work on shared goals and concerns together (56%); and
- keep each other accountable and motivated (54%).