Americans in Denial About Health

Most Americans think they are healthier than they actually are, according to a new survey from Mintel.

Seven in 10 survey respondents (71 percent) said they think they’re in excellent or good health. But according to the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions’ Connected Care, 100 million Americans suffer from chronic illnesses such as heart disease, diabetes or hypertension. Only 25 percent of survey respondents said they suffer from or have been diagnosed as obese or overweight. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), however, two-thirds (67 percent) fall into these categories. Mintel calculated the body mass index (BMI) of survey respondents for a separate report on obesity and likewise found that 65 percent of people are overweight or obese.

While they think they are healthy, most realize they need to be more active and eat better. Mintel found 70 percent of adults think they should exercise more. Fewer than two in five (37 percent) say they exercise regularly, and half of them (48 percent) only work out twice a week or less. The CDC recommends moderate aerobic activity for 150 minutes per week, plus two muscle-strengthening sessions per week. Two-thirds (65 percent) said they “try to eat healthier food these days,” but nearly the same percentage (59 percent) said they eat the foods they like “regardless of calories.” Similarly, half (52 percent) said they’re on a diet, but nearly the same number (45 percent) feel they often overeat.

About half of Mintel survey respondents (51 percent) consider it “very important” to live a healthy lifestyle; another four in 10 (39 percent) consider it “somewhat import