Survey: Americans Hippy, Happy

Most Americans can tolerate being fat and getting too little exercise, a new survey says. They believe they’re fine just as they are.

A poll for the health club industry found 74% of respondents saying they were generally satisfied with their health. But separate federal figures say 55% of Americans are too fat, and that more than 60% do not get enough physical activity regularly to benefit their health.

“It appears as though the accepted norm has shifted to an overweight person who does not exercise,” said the International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Assn., which commissioned the survey. “Most Americans are satisfied with their health, yet are most likely overweight.”

The Roper Starch Worldwide survey attempted to understand America’s thinking on exercise--why some people work out and others don’t. It found a range of attitudes, from exercise believers who get mental and physical benefits from their workouts to couch potatoes who think exercise is just a passing fad. The report groups attitudes into six profiles, with the opinions of the rest--about one in five--being too diverse to categorize.

Three of the groups tended to be nonexercisers.

About 14% were termed Abracadabras, because they wish there were a magic pill that could give them the benefit of exercise without the work. “They don’t think it’s a waste of time, but they don’t seem to feel a whole lot of guilt about not exercising,” said Geoffrey Feinberg, Roper Starch research director. Many are middle-aged moms who say they don’t have the time, he said.

The Woulda-Shouldas, 12%, can’t commit to a fitness routine, the study said. “They know they should exercise, but they have trouble getting motivated,” Feinberg said. “They feel kind of bad about it.”

Another 13% were termed Sitcom Skeptics. The survey found this group viewed exercise as unnecessary.

Sitcom Skeptics will be hard to reach with the exercise message, but Woulda-Shouldas could be tempted, Feinberg said. “If they can somehow become aware that they would feel so much better in so many respects if they would exercise, I think that would appeal to them,” he said.

IHRSA’s research director William C. Howland Jr. is interested in targeting the Abracadabras. He believes these time-pressured people might respond better if they looked at exercise’s more immediate benefits, such as stress reduction, increased energy and better sleep.

Other segments realize the benefits of exercise--and do it.

About 13%, termed Balanced Holistics, believe that fitness not only helps their bodies, it gives them a more positive attitude toward life.

Eight percent who are Conscientious Preventors focus on the health and medical benefits. These include a reduced risk of chronic conditions such as heart disease and diabetes, as well as improvements in weight control.

And Social Competitors, who are 20%, are young risk-takers who say their activities bring them friends and fun.

However, even though the fitness community has work ahead of it in getting more people to exercise, IHRSA President Joe Cirulli cites some successes.

“I started lifting weights when I was 9 and when I was in high school, I was known as ‘the weight lifter,’ ” said Cirulli, who owns two clubs in Gainesville, Fla.

“Now, when I walk in, I see thousands of people lifting weights and exercising. You go back 30 years, the people who worked out regularly were ‘the health nuts.’ ”