AMERICANS KEEPING NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS TO EXERCISE, ACCORDING TO NATIONAL POLL BY SHU
SACRED HEART UNIVERSITY NEWS
Contact: Funda Alp, 203-396-8241, alpf@sacredheart.edu
For Immediate Release
February 27, 2006
Americans Keeping New Year's Resolutions to Exercise, According to National Poll by Sacred Heart University
FAIRFIELD, Conn.— Have you kept your New Year's resolutions? While most of us make pacts with ourselves at the beginning of each year, it seems that they are often forgotten in a couple of months. However, according to a national poll by the Sacred Heart University Polling Institute, the majority of Americans who resolved to exercise claim to be keeping their promises to themselves.
- Nearly half of all Americans surveyed, 47.9%, suggested they made a resolution or personal commitment to exercise and become more physically active in 2006.
- Those making a New Year's resolution were asked: “Now, honestly, how frequently did you keep your commitment to exercise since January 1, 2006?” Two-thirds, 67.6%, suggested they kept their commitment always (28.6%) or most of the time (39.0%).
- Three-quarters of those surveyed, 75.8%, indicated they do moderate exercise weekly such as brisk walking, vacuuming or yard work while 33.4% said they do vigorous exercise in a usual week such as running, jogging or weight lifting.
“As the survey indicates, Americans are increasingly recognizing the importance of exercise as an element of healthy living. Exercise intensity needs to be correctly suited to age, level of fitness and underlying disease and risk factors. As exercise becomes more clearly recognized as a factor in healthy living, we can anticipate even greater positive effects from this low-cost health intervention,” says Michael J. Emery, P.T., Ed.D., associate professor and chairman, Department of Physical Therapy and Human Movement Science at Sacred Heart University.
EXPERTS AVAILABLE FOR COMMENT
To speak with these experts, please contact Funda Alp at 203-396-8241 or alpf@sacredheart.edu.
How the Poll Was Conducted
The Sacred Heart University Polling Institute completed 1,000 interviews with residents nationwide between February 9-15, 2006. The sample was generated proportional to population contribution in all 50 states. Statistically, a sample of 1,000 completed telephone interviews represents a margin for error of +/-3.0% at a 95% confidence level.
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About Sacred Heart University
Sacred Heart University, the second-largest Catholic university in New England, offers more than 50 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs. Its main campus in Fairfield, Connecticut, is complemented by satellites in Connecticut, Luxembourg and Ireland. Over 5,600 students are enrolled in its four colleges: Arts & Sciences; Education & Health Professions; University College; and the newly established John F. Welch College of Business, committed to educating students in the leadership tradition and legacy of Jack Welch. U.S. News & World Report and the Princeton Review place SHU among America's best colleges in the Northeast, and Intel rates it #11 among the nation's most “unwired” campuses. SHU fields 32 Division I athletic teams, and has an award-winning program of community service. www.sacredheart.edu
For additional Sacred Heart University news, please visit http://www.sacredheart.edu/pressroom.cfm.
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