HEALTH & FITNESS : HAIL THE HALE : Poll Shows County Population Is Unusually Focused on Health

Orange County residents are surprisingly focused on health and fitness, with nearly three of every four saying they are more concerned about diet and nutrition today than they were five years ago. A whopping 86% said they pay either a lot or some attention to diet and nutrition, and 72% said they pay either a lot or some attention to exercise and fitness, according to The Times Orange County Poll.

A mere one in 10 residents polled said they favor red meat as “very much” a part of their diet. Four in 10 said they eat no sweets. And cigarette smokers are a dwindling minority: Just 17%--in contrast with 27% nationally--admitted to lighting up.

Given Southern California’s reputation as a trend-setter, the county might be ahead of the nation in its increasing focus on health and fitness, pollster Mark Baldassare said.

In fact, he said, interest in fitness has “practically become a county obsession.”

That interest cuts across all age and income categories and affects men and women equally, the figures showed.

A national study by the Centers for Disease Control in 1987 found that just 45% of Americans get enough exercise to do them any good. In contrast, nearly 75% of respondents to The Times Orange County Poll said they exercise at least several times a week, including 21% who said they adhere to a daily routine.

Residents said they have taken seriously the concept of eating well and exercising, said Baldassare, whose firm, Mark Baldassare & Associates of Irvine, conducted the poll for The Times Orange County.

Eating healthy is a “definite trend” in the county, he said: “We were always told that a good, wholesome diet was white bread, bologna and whole milk--with some chocolate cookies for dessert,” but the poll indicates that has changed.

He attributed the results to “the increasing public awareness that fitness and diet are central to living longer. It’s a scientific discovery that’s become very accessible to the public at large. The secret to the fountain of youth is out, and it’s diet and exercise.”

The poll indicated that adherence to more healthful habits may be paying off, with 89% rating their health as either excellent or good. Men rate their health slightly higher than do women.

The most popular exercises, according to the survey, are calisthenics (65% of the exercisers do them), bicycling (49%) and weights (46%). In addition to calisthenics, men tend to favor weights and bicycling, while women prefer aerobics and walking.

When not working out, county residents said they turn to other outlets for exercise. Swimming was rated as the most popular outdoor activity, followed by bicycling and hiking.

Other findings:

* Of residents polled, 26% said they have quit smoking, and 57% said they have never smoked. Smoking is least popular among the young. Among ages 18-34, 69% say they have never smoked, and another 15% have quit. Older people are the most successful quitters, with 41% of those 55 and older saying they have stopped smoking--the single largest age group to have kicked the habit.

* Nearly 70% said fresh produce is “very much” a part of their regular diet. Fish, chicken and whole grains also scored high. Fish or chicken are very much a part of their diet, 61% said, while 48% put whole grains in that category. Just 5% rated sweets as a big part of their diet. When it comes to diet and nutrition, women and older people tended to be more concerned.

* While people are changing eating habits, they cannot kick caffeine. More than half said caffeine is still “very much” or “somewhat” a part of their regular diet.

* Curiously, vitamins were rated by many as unimportant. Vitamins are “very much” a part of their regular diet, 34% said, but another one-third said they do not take them at all.

* Most residents said they no longer worship at one of Southern California’s most famous shrines: the sun. Merely about one in four said they are interested in getting a suntan, apparently a response to heightened publicity about the links between the sun’s rays and skin cancer. Concern about the sun’s harmful rays is more pronounced among women than men. About half the women said they avoid the sun; just 28% of the men said they avoid it.

Several factors may explain the county’s high perceptions of health and fitness consciousness, Baldassare said. Its high level of affluence and education probably contributes to more awareness, he said. The “California life style,” with year-round good weather, also provides opportunities for outdoor activities.

In addition, the county has an abundance of parks and other public outdoor space for exercising, he said. And in a more suburban environment, people do not have the fear of crime that urban dwellers face, so they do not hesitate to jog at night or visit parks.

The poll questioned 600 county adult residents May 16-19, using a random sample. The percentage of error is plus or minus 4 percentage points. Respondents were guaranteed anonymity, but some agreed to be reinterviewed to elaborate on their views.

Linda McGregor of Irvine is a longtime adherent to the health and fitness movement. A health club member, she swims regularly and also does aerobics. “This morning I went to a low-impact jazz (exercise) class, and it was a blast,” she said.

Married and the mother of 3, McGregor, 41, said staying in shape is not torture. “I know what makes me feel good,” she said. “When I eat right, I feel better. When I exercise, I feel better.”

The sun is off limits for her. “I used to live in Hawaii and had a lot of sun exposure,” McGregor said. “I freckled a lot of my skin. I used to think if people had a tan, they looked great. Now when I see people with a tan, I don’t think they look great anymore.”

Ron Fox, a partner in a lobbying firm and a Laguna Niguel resident, said he has begun thinking more about fitness since he and his wife learned that they are going to be parents for the third time. “I’ve got another child on the way, and all of a sudden I’m thinking about long-term things and that I can’t abuse my body as I once did,” said Fox, 36.

As a self-described hard worker, Fox said he has spent most of his life doing things in a hurry. That often has meant eating on the run, with little regard for nutrition.

“Whatever looked good or was appetizing” would do, he said. “I must admit I was one of those people who hit the fast-food places. McDonald’s French fries were a mainstay of life.”

Although he had a physical exam several weeks ago that gave him good marks for cholesterol and blood pressure, Fox weighs 275 pounds and wants to lose about 50.

The combination of his weight, job stress and his past eating habits has awakened him to the need to change his ways, he said.

“I’ve read from time to time about people who are hard chargers and Type-A personalities who drop over at 33, 35, 36,” he said. “I’m in that range, so you have to be more cautious.”

Marci Lemmon, 37 and a mother of two in Irvine, said she “grew up pretty much in a red-meat-and-potatoes family,” but she has made a few changes in her adult life. Red meat seldom makes an appearance at the family dinner table, she said.

But while she takes the news seriously about the effects of diet and nutrition, Lemmon said she is not fanatical about it: “In 10 years, they’ll probably say baloney is the best thing for you. That’s why I try to give a moderate amount of attention to this kind of thing. If you go with the basics, you’re pretty much going to be healthy. I think a lot of it is in your genes, anyway.”

While both men and women are interested in diet and nutrition, women are more so, according to the poll. Of the women, 60% said they pay “a lot” of attention to diet and nutrition, while 43% of the men said they do. Another 31% of the women and 36% of the men said they pay at least “some” attention to diet and nutrition. At the other end of the spectrum, just 7% of the men and 3% of the women said they pay no attention to diet and nutrition.

Lest they give the impression that they are spending all their time sweating at the gym or chomping fresh carrots, 42% of the respondents said they consider themselves overweight. About three in 10 said they are dieting or counting calories to lose weight, with about twice as high a percentage of women saying they are doing that as men.

Of those who are dieting, 16% said they are going to a private clinic to help lose weight.

Membership in private clinics was strongly tied to income as was membership in private health clubs. In both cases, those most likely to belong earn more than $40,000 a year.

While most residents are committed to working out, they are not eager to pay for it. Monthly fees and other costs to belong to a private health club were rejected by 43%, while 38% would pay $25 or less a month. And 15% would pay $26 to $50. That left just 4% willing to pay more than $50 a month.

The poll found that most county adults have some kind of exercise routine. Daily exercise is the regimen for 21%, with another 53% saying they exercise several times a week. Just 13% said they never exercise.

The findings on the amount exercising did not vary greatly with age. Of those 55 or older, 70% said they exercise either daily or several times a week, compared with 74% for all age groups.

As for maintenance, 62% of residents said they have an annual physical exam. Women and older residents are more likely to undergo a yearly checkup, the poll showed.

HIGHLIGHTS OF ORANGE COUNTY HEALTH & FITNESS POLL

Health and Fitness Trends

Compared to five years ago, are you more or less concerned about . . .

More Less Same Diet and nutrition 72% 6% 22% Exercise and fitness 65 10 25

How much attention do you pay to diet and nutrition?

Men Women 18-34 35-54 55+ A lot 43% 61% 47% 52% 62% Some 36 31 37 36 23 A little 14 5 12 6 8 None 7 3 4 6 7

Total A lot: 52% Some: 34% A little: 9% None: 5% How much attention do you pay to exercise and fitness?

Men Women 18-34 35-54 55+ A lot % 41% 29% 42% 29% 32% Some 34 40 36 41 33 A little 18 22 16 22 22 None 7 9 6 8 13

Total A lot: 35% Some: 37% A little: 20% None: 8% OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

How often do you do each of these outdoor activities?

Hardly Often Sometimes Ever Never Swimming 20% 38% 14% 28% Bicycling 15 27 18 40 Hiking 13 28 14 45 Team Sports 14 23 11 52 Sailing, Boating 8 20 15 57 Tennis 5 13 13 69 Golf 8 13 9 70 Ocean Sports, Surfing 7 9 6 78

EXERCISE WORKOUTS

How many days a week do you exercise for physical fitness?

Total Men Women 18-34 35-54 55+ Daily 21% 23% 18% 19% 17% 30% Several 53 54 53 61 52 40 Once 13 11 14 11 15 11 Never 13 12 15 9 16 19

Which of these activities are part of your regular exercise workout?

(of those who workout)

Total Men Women 18-34 35-54 55+ Calisthenics 65% 67% 64% 75% 68% 41% Bicycling 49 51 47 53 53 36 Weights 46 56 36 61 40 24 Walking 43 29 58 32 47 60 Aerobics 39 23 56 46 42 17 Jogging 39 45 32 46 43 18 Racquet sports 30 40 19 43 28 7 Lap swimming 30 33 28 36 32 19

REGULAR DAILY FOODS

How much of a part of your regular diet are the following foods?

Very A Not at Much Somewhat Little All Fresh Produce 69% 23% 7% 1% Fish/Chicken 61 30 6 3 Whole Grains 48 35 12 5 Vitamins 34 18 15 33 Caffeine 31 25 19 25 Red Meat 10 27 46 17 Sweets 5 14 40 41

DIETING

How would you describe your weight?

Men Women 18-34 35-54 55+ Overweight 38% 45% 32% 48% 53% Ideal Weight 55 50 60 48 42 Underweight 7 5 8 4 5

Total Overweight: 42% Ideal Weight: 52% Underweight: 6% Are you currently dieting or counting calories to lose weight?

Total Men Women 18-34 35-54 55+ Yes 31% 20% 43% 24% 36% 39% No 69 80 57 76 64 61

Are you going to a private clinic or group to help you lose weight?

(of those who are dieting)

ANNUAL INCOME Less Than $20,000 $40,000 Total $20,000 39,000 59,000 $60,000+ Yes 16% 11% 13% 14% 24% No 84 89 87 86 76

OVERALL HEALTH

Overall, how would you rate your health?

Men Women 18-34 35-54 55+ Excellent 41% 32% 37% 38% 33% Good 50 56 53 53 54 Fair 7 10 9 7 11 Poor 2 2 1 2 2

Total Excellent: 36% Good: 53% Fair: 9% Poor: 2% Do you have an annual physical exam?

Total Men Women 18-34 35-54 55+ Yes 62% 51% 73% 59% 57% 76% No 38 49 27 41 43 24

WHERE DO YOU FIT IN?

To find out if you are the recommended weight for your height, consult the following guide. The weight is in pounds with clothes on, the height is with shoes (1-inch heels).

MALE Small Medium Large Height Frame Frame Frame 4 feet, 10 inches -- -- -- 4 feet, 11 inches -- -- -- 5 feet -- -- -- 5 feet, 1 inch -- -- -- 5 feet, 2 inches 112-120 118-129 126-141 5 feet, 3 inches 115-123 121-133 129-144 5 feet, 4 inches 118-126 124-136 132-148 5 feet, 5 inches 121-129 127-139 135-152 5 feet, 6 inches 124-133 130-143 138-156 5 feet, 7 inches 128-137 134-147 142-161 5 feet, 8 inches 132-141 138-152 147-166 5 feet, 9 inches 136-145 142-156 151-170 5 feet, 10 inches 140-150 146-160 155-174 5 feet, 11 inches 144-154 150-165 159-179 6 feet 148-158 154-170 164-184 6 feet, 1 inch 152-162 158-175 168-189 6 feet, 2 inches 156-167 162-180 173-194 6 feet, 3 inches 160-171 167-185 178-199 6 feet, 4 inches 164-175 172-190 182-204

FEMALE Small Medium Large Height Frame Frame Frame 4 feet, 10 inches 92-98 96-107 104-119 4 feet, 11 inches 94-101 98-110 106-122 5 feet 96-104 101-113 109-125 5 feet, 1 inch 99-107 104-116 112-128 5 feet, 2 inches 102-110 107-119 115-131 5 feet, 3 inches 105-113 110-122 118-134 5 feet, 4 inches 108-116 113-126 121-138 5 feet, 5 inches 111-119 116-130 125-142 5 feet, 6 inches 114-123 120-135 129-146 5 feet, 7 inches 118-127 124-139 133-150 5 feet, 8 inches 122-131 128-143 137-154 5 feet, 9 inches 126-135 132-147 141-158 5 feet, 10 inches 130-140 136-151 145-163 5 feet, 11 inches 134-144 140-155 149-168 6 feet 138-148 144-159 153-173 6 feet, 1 inch -- -- -- 6 feet, 2 inches -- -- -- 6 feet, 3 inches -- -- --

Source: Metropolitan Life Insurance Company