The findings are part of the latest AIA Healthy Living Index Survey (“The Survey”), the fourth since 2011, which highlights the prevailing health trends, motivations and concerns for individuals and communities across Asia-Pacific.
Healthy habits can be hard to sustain. The report advises that only 17% of those surveyed who have ever tried a diet programme continue to use one now, and only 35% of those who have ever joined a gym or fitness class have attended a session in the past four weeks.
Technology, however is proving a positive force for change. Over half (53%) of all respondents in Australia consider health and activity tracking technology to be easy to use and 49% of those think these devices motivate positive changes in behaviour. That said, more than half (58%) who have tried such trackers have since stopped using them.
AIA Australia and New Zealand Chief Executive Damien Mu, a keen supporter of regular exercise and a user himself of technology to help track his daily habits, says that it is good news that Australians are making the most of the technology available to them. He adds that there is more to be done to help them stick to their goals: “At AIA Australia, we actively promote health and wellbeing for our members and we constantly work to help close the gap between early adoption of health practices into ongoing maintenance of those practices. Our health and wellbeing program AIA Vitality supports education and awareness about the state of members’ health and provides incentives to encourage ongoing healthier choices. It aims to help people, for example to increase physical activity, assess mental wellbeing and improve nutrition habits.”
The report informs that overall, people’s satisfaction with their health and habits in Australia has declined slightly since the 2016 AIA Healthy Living Index study. Some 72% of respondents are satisfied with their health, down from 74% in 2016.
Two in three (66%) Australians rate themselves positively on the amount of sleep they are getting – this is down 10% from 2016. In terms of coping with stress (71%) are satisfied they have the tools in place – but this is also down 9% from 2016. On average, people in Australia report sleeping six-and-a-half hours each night, a reduction of ten minutes compared with 2016.
The results are likely to reflect changing expectations about ideal healthy lifestyles and behaviours as much as changing habits. Despite this general drop in satisfaction levels, people are increasingly likely to behave more healthily. On average, respondents in Australia claim to do 4.0 hours of exercise each week – an increase from 2.9 hours claimed in 2016.
Mu adds: “It is important that we are able to track this information so we can make more informed decisions about how we can practically add value to the improvement of overall health and wellbeing of Australians. At AIA Australia, we believe in the importance of protection, health and wellness so much we want to champion Australia to be the healthiest and most protected nation in the world.”
Please see the full regional report for more detail on the research findings by clicking on the following link: https://www.aia.com/en/healthy-living/aia-healthy-living-index.html
The AIA Healthy Living Index surveyed 11,000 adults in 16 of AIA’s markets and was commissioned by AIA and conducted by IPSOS, a leading consumer research company.
Contact:
Ingrid Nienaber, AIA Australia
E: Ingrid.Nienaber@aia.com
T: +613 9009 4143
About the AIA Healthy Living Index
The 2018 AIA Healthy Living Index is the fourth Asia-Pacific wide survey on health and wellbeing AIA has conducted since 2011.
The survey findings highlight prevailing health trends and indicate areas in which individuals and communities can move towards sustaining more healthy lifestyles.
The Asia-Pacific region is experiencing rapid growth in demand for quality healthcare that outstrips the development of resources and infrastructure. This phenomenon is creating significant opportunities for innovative technology and healthcare funding solutions to improve the quality and availability of care across the region.
For the 2018 Index we carried out surveys among 11,000 adults in 16 of our markets — Australia, Cambodia, mainland China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Korea, Macau, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.
In addition to producing the AIA Healthy Living Index itself, which measures consumers’ satisfaction with their health and wellness behaviours, the 2018 Survey had several additional objectives. In each market, we wanted to find out:
- How the issue of financing healthy activities and medical treatment affects people’s ability to live healthily;
- What motivates people to adopt healthy behaviours, what factors make it hard for them to sustain them, and how they can make sustainable changes to adopt a more healthy lifestyle;
- What role technology is playing in people’ attempts to adopt healthier habits.
Learn more by following this link: https://www.aia.com/en/healthy-living/aia-healthy-living-index.html
About AIA Australia
AIA Australia is a leading life insurance specialist with over 45 years’ experience. With a unique customer value proposition focused on life, health and wellness, our purpose is to make a difference in people’s lives.
AIA Australia offers a range of products that protect and enhance the lives of more than four million Australians. Our vision is to embrace shared value in championing Australia and New Zealand to be the healthiest and most protected nations in the world. With AIA Vitality – the world’s leading scientifically-backed health and wellness program – we help members to live healthier, longer, better lives.
AIA Australia has been recognised with multiple awards, including being named ANZIIF Life Insurance Company of the Year (2017, 2015, 2013, 2012).
Further information at www.aia.com.au.
