Living in Georgia Less Stressful According to New Survey

PRNewswire/ -- While 93 percent of Americans report attempting to make everyday choices to be healthy and live well, more than half (55 percent) of Georgia 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. Georgia residents report that the two main barriers preventing them from living a healthier lifestyle include lack of time (36 percent) and the costs associated with eating a balanced diet (24 percent).

Free YMCA Wellness Events

In support of individuals and families struggling to make healthier choices, Amway Global and the YMCA are hosting free wellness events open to the public at select YMCAs on Sept. 20, 2008, as part of America On the Move Week. As a first step, health seekers can go to http://www.inspirewellness.com/ and take the Stanford Health and Lifestyle Assessment. Then, they can bring their summary reports to a local YMCA to talk with a health and wellness staff member about steps they can take toward a healthier life. Go to http://www.inspirewellness.com/ for a list of participating YMCAs in Georgia.

Georgia Wellness Challenges:

Exercise

The survey shows that one-quarter (25 percent) of Georgia residents, versus 23 percent of Americans, 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, 91 percent of Georgia residents drive or use public transportation. However, when they do exercise, the focus is on general wellness (33 percent), cardiovascular endurance (25 percent) and increasing muscle tone (17 percent).

Stress

Thirty-five percent of Georgians report having a "very" or "somewhat" high stress level, according to the Amway Global Wellness Index. Forty-four percent of Georgia residents find that talking to family and friends is a highly effective way of coping with their stress. Increasing physical activity (33 percent) and sleep (26 percent) also top the list, while 16 percent turn to food for comfort and 16 percent practice yoga. Only 7 percent of residents decrease the time they spend using technology gadgets to reduce stress.

Sleep

While 37 percent of Georgia residents report that not getting enough exercise is one of the biggest wellness challenges, 34 percent also report getting enough sleep as a major challenge. Only 10 percent of Georgians judge their current state of wellness by the amount of sleep they get.

Weight

Nearly half (48 percent) of Georgia residents consider themselves obese or overweight, yet only one-quarter (25 percent) of Georgia respondents gauge their state of wellness by their current weight.

The Election, Economy and Wellness

Thirty-seven percent of Georgians and 33 percent of Americans claim that the candidates' positions on personal wellness will influence how they vote this election. Additionally, 42 percent of Americans, versus 41 percent of Georgians, 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).

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/.

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Savannah Mayor Otis Johnson Honored as 'Healthy Hero' by The AMERIGROUP Foundation

PRNewswire - The AMERIGROUP Foundation today announced that Savannah, Ga., Mayor Otis Johnson has been honored with its "Healthy Heroes" award. The occasion was celebrated in two ceremonies today at the Savannah City Hall and the Ralph Mark Gilbert Civil Rights Museum.

"AMERIGROUP is pleased to honor those who work tirelessly to make a difference in our communities, and Mayor Johnson certainly fits that description," said Dr. Tunde Sotunde, CEO of AMERIGROUP Community Care in Georgia. "In addition, we are pleased to support the work and mission of both the Ralph Mark Gilbert Civil Rights Museum and the West Broad Street YMCA, the worthy organizations which Mayor Johnson has commended."

The AMERIGROUP Foundation Healthy Heroes Award recognizes leaders, teachers, schools or community based organizations who demonstrate leadership by improving the overall well-being of the community, enhancing health-related initiatives, or serving as advocates for the financially vulnerable or disadvantaged in the area of health promotion or related programs.

To commemorate Mayor Johnson's commitment to the community, the AMERIGROUP Foundation will present a $500 contribution to both the Ralph Mark Gilbert Civil Rights Museum and the West Broad Street YMCA.

"The AMERIGROUP Foundation's commitment and many contributions focused on encouraging healthy families and communities have been a great help to the people of Savannah," Mayor Johnson said. "We are all grateful for their support of local organizations like the Ralph Mark Gilbert Civil Rights Museum and the West Broad Street YMCA that assist and enrich the lives of those in our community."

The Ralph Mark Gilbert Civil Rights Museum, recently honored as "Georgia's Best New History Museum" by the Georgia Journal, is named in honor of the late Dr. Ralph Mark Gilbert. The father of Savannah's modern-day Civil Rights Movement and fearless National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) leader was known for much more than his outspoken campaigns for civil rights. He was a nationally known orator, pulpiteer and playwright, producing religious dramas throughout the country.

The West Broad Street YMCA is one of the last seven Heritage YMCA sites in the United States. Open originally on West Broad Street, now known as Martin Luther King Blvd., the West Broad Street YMCA moved to its current 1110 May Street site in 1968.

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