ADA, Mich., Sept. 15 /PRNewswire/ — While 93 percent of Americans report attempting to make everyday choices to be healthy and live well, nearly half (49 percent) of West Virginia residents say they struggle to do so, according to the Amway Global Wellness Index, a recent national survey of more than 15,000 Americans regarding their health and wellness. West Virginia residents report that the two main barriers preventing them from living a healthier lifestyle include lack of time (43 percent) and the cost associated with eating a balanced diet (27 percent).

West Virginia Wellness Challenges:

Stress

Fifty-four percent of West Virginians report having a "very" or "somewhat" high stress level which is much higher than the national average (40 percent), according to the Amway Global Wellness Index. Fifty-four percent of West Virginia residents find that talking to family and friends is a highly effective way of coping with their stress. Increasing physical activity (42 percent) and sleep (33 percent) also top the list, while 20 percent turn to food for comfort and 17 percent shop. Only 11 percent of residents decrease the time they spend using technology gadgets to reduce stress.

Exercise

The survey shows that 29 percent of West Virginia residents, versus 23 percent nationally, are not exercising for at least 30 minutes or more at a time on a regular basis. That's well under the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommendation of a minimum of 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity per day or a minimum of 20 minutes of vigorous-intensity physical activity three days a week. When it comes to the work commute, 90 percent of West Virginia residents drive or use public transportation. However, when they do exercise, the focus is on general wellness (35 percent), cardiovascular endurance (27 percent) and weight loss (15 percent).

Weight

Fifty percent of West Virginia residents consider themselves obese or overweight compared to 45 percent of Americans, yet only 28 percent of West Virginia respondents gauge their state of wellness by their current weight.

Sleep

While 33 percent of West Virginia residents report that not getting enough exercise is one of the biggest wellness challenges, 36 percent also report getting enough sleep as a major challenge. Only 15 percent of West Virginians judge their current state of wellness by the amount of sleep they get.

The Economy, Election and Wellness

Forty-three percent of West Virginians, versus 42 percent of Americans, report that the economy is having a negative impact on their wellness choices. For the nation, current economic conditions also are negatively affecting the wellness of 51 percent of non-working parents, versus 43 percent of working parents. And, when it comes to the battle of the sexes, the health of women is affected more by the economy (44 percent) than men (40 percent). Overall, 30 percent of West Virginians and 33 percent of Americans claim that the candidates' positions on personal wellness will influence how they vote this election.

About the Amway Global Wellness Index

The Amway Global Wellness Index is a national survey of 15,035 American adults ages 18 and older to uncover American views toward the concept of wellness and individual, family and community wellness. Commissioned by Amway Global, the study has an estimated margin of error of +/-0.8 percentage points at the 95 percent confidence level. For more information and state-specific statistics, go to http://www.inspirewellness.com.

About Amway Global

Amway Global offers the opportunity for people to have a business of their own based on retailing products and sharing the opportunity with others who will do the same. Amway Global supports Independent Business Owners (IBOs) with a proven compensation plan, portfolios of quality products in health, beauty and other consumer categories, plus the merchandising materials, training and education they need to be successful. IBOs also are supported by communities of those who have already built successful businesses. Amway Global has been ranked the No. 1 online health and beauty retailer based on sales, and 26th among all e-commerce sites, according to Internet Retailer magazine, based on 2007 sales. Based in Ada, Mich., Amway Global is the North American affiliate of Amway Corp., a worldwide leader in direct selling, with more than three million IBOs in more than 80 countries and territories around the world. The Amway business opportunity operated as Quixtar Inc. in North America from 1999 until 2008. As Amway transforms its North American business with exceptional new products, expanded support, and enhanced compensation, the company is leveraging its ties to the nearly $7 billion international Amway business and transitioning to the Amway Global brand in North America.

SOURCE Amway Global

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