Singaporeans desire to eat healthy

A study conducted by Pure Group, one of Asia’s leading wellness brands, reveals that Singaporeans have the desire to eat healthy even as they struggle with embracing a truly healthy lifestyle.  

The following are results from the report, Singapore Wellness Barometer: Beyond Fitness, Food and Fashion:

Of the 1,000 respondents across ages of 18-65, most Singaporeans struggled with both time (40%) and motivation (46%) to maintain an active and healthy lifestyle. However, compensating for the lack of a fitness routine, and a generally sedentary lifeyle, is the desire to eat healthy.

Over 80% of respondents agreed that nutrition is an important factor in overall wellbeing. This health-conscious attitude is driven by the habit of preparing their own healthy meals at home (76%).

The latest trend in healthy eating, the DNA-based diet, which is tailored to fit one’s genetic makeup, was of interest to 32% respondents. DNA-based diets would facilitate for more effective weight loss as part of a growing trend in lifestyle/fitness technology. 

According to the report, the slow food movement (as opposed to fast food) has become a trend especially among busy professionals who want nutritious yet easy to consume foods.

Other interesting nutrition stats from the survey, which were not carried on the report include:

Nutritional Awareness

• Respondents aged 55-64 have the largest percentage of "poor awareness" (42%), a significant spike from the mean of 31% across all age groups.
• Respondents aged 45-54 have the largest percentage of "no awareness" (15%), a significant spike from the mean of 8% across all age groups.

Nutritional Importance

• 20% of respondents aged 18-24 perceive nutrition as not so important, which directly correlates to their preference for fast/unhealthy food at 13%. Both of which represent the largest percentage across all age groups. 
• Despite their "poor awareness" on nutrition, 58% of respondents aged 55-64 believe that nutrition is "very important".
• 2% of respondents aged 55-64 and none​ of respondents aged 65+ indicated that nutrition is "not so important", significantly lower than the mean of 14% across all age groups. Nutrition is high on agenda for these age groups.
  More females (33%) perceive nutrition to be "very important" than males (26%). 

Other findings on nutrition

• Respondents between ages 18-24 and 25-34 dine out more than the mean of 21% across all age groups with 25% and 26% respectively.
• 28% of respondents aged 18-24 and 28% of respondents aged 25-34 indicated that it is more expensive for them to eat healthy, higher than the mean of 24% across all age groups. This suggests that they are less willing to spend more on nutrition.
• Healthy food is generally accessible (73%) as well as affordable (76%) to majority of all respondents. 
• Education on nutrition is strong in Singapore as only 15% of all respondents felt like they did not know enough about good nutrition to make the right choices. 

Age groups are categorised by: 18-24, 25-34, 35-44, 45-54, 55-64, 65+