Sleep Beats Healthy Eating and Exercise in People’s Health Routines

Nuremberg, Germany — Mexico and China have the highest number of consumers who claim to exercise on a regular basis to maintain their physical health

Over eight in ten Indonesians regularly get enough sleep to maintain their physical health – in contrast to just over half of Russians

GfK asked consumers around the world what activities they regularly engage in to maintain their physical health – and getting enough sleep topped eating healthy food, exercising or taking vitamins.

GfK’s survey of 23 countries found that two-thirds of global consumers (66 percent) say that they regularly get enough sleep in order to maintain physical health. This is more popular among global women (at 69 percent), compared to 63 percent of global men.

The next most popular activity is eating healthy, nutritious foods, with 59 percent of global consumers regularly doing this to maintain physical health. In this case, women are even more strongly in the lead at 63 percent, compared to 56 percent of men.

When it comes to exercise, 57 percent of global consumers work out regularly to maintain physical wellbeing – and more men tend to do this than women: 60 percent vs. 54 percent.

Top 5 activities people do to maintain physical health

Countries where top 3 activities are most popular

Looking at how prevalent these healthy behaviors are in individual countries, GfK’s survey indicates that Indonesia (85 percent), India (77 percent) and China (73 percent) are the top three countries where consumers say that they habitually get enough sleep in order to maintain physical health.

India and Indonesia are also the two top markets where consumers say they regularly eat healthily to maintain physical wellbeing, with 79 percent and 74 percent respectively – and they are followed by Mexico with 69 percent.

For countries where people regularly exercise to maintain physical health, Mexico tops the list with 68 percent claiming to do this, followed closely by China at 67 percent and Canada and Australia coming third at 61 percent each.

How countries differ in maintaining their physical health

Differences between women and men

Other interesting findings revealed by GfK’s survey include the fact that global women are over two times more likely than global men to regularly use sunscreen in order to maintain physical health (42 percent vs.18 percent). Brazilian consumers are in the lead on sunscreen use at a national level (at 46 percent), followed by Canada and South Korea (both at 43 percent). Australia and Spain both trail at 42 percent.

Differences between parents and non-parents

The survey also revealed that there are differences between parents and non-parents in the top three activities for maintaining physical health. There is a slight difference in getting enough sleep (where parents lead by 2 percent) and exercise (where non-parents lead by 3 percent). But we see a more significant difference when it comes to eating healthy, nutritious foods. Here, parents lead over non-parents by 8 percent, presumably since this healthy measure can benefit the child as well as the parent.

Ranking: activities people around the world say they do regularly to maintain physical health

Get enough sleep – 66%

Eat healthy, nutritious foods – 59%

Exercise – 57%

Have a regular oral care routine – 54%

Spend time with family, friends, or pets – 53%

Use skin care or beauty/personal grooming products – 38%

Take vitamins or other supplements – 32%

Use sunscreen – 30%

Take a break from technology or unplug/disconnect – 22%

Follow a specific diet – 18%

Meditate or use other relaxation techniques – 17%

Get massages or other types of spa treatments – 14%

Use herbal, holistic, or other alternative remedies/therapies – 14%

Get cosmetic or elective surgery or non-surgical procedures – 6%

Source: GfK survey of more than 28,000 consumers aged 15 or older in 23 countries – averages across all countries, multiple selections possible, figures are rounded.