Attitudes Towards Diet and Exercise - US - July 2003

SUMMARY

Awareness of health and obesity issues continues to grow in the UnitedStates. Most consumers are cognizant of the importance of a balanced diet andregular exercise toward maintaining physical fitness and health. But areconsumers acting on this awareness to adopt a healthy lifestyle? Which arelikely to do so in the future?

Using exclusive consumer research, Mintel considers the eating habits, exercisehabits, and time pressures that can make it difficult for even health-consciousadults to maintain an ideal diet and exercise regimen. Research examinesconsumer behavior and opinions about diet and exercise according to age, region,sex, ethnicity and economic groups. Surveys cover topics such as sports,exercise programs, meals, snacks, junk food, dieting, and nutrition. Consumerperceptions about their own diets are revealed, such as "I consider my dietto be very healthy" or "Ill try any new diet," alongsideexercise behavior and opinions such "I make sure I exercise regularly"or "I know I should exercise more than I do."

By combining research and analysis in these two categories and comparingconsumer attitudes to their behavior, Mintel is able to formulate an accurateand insightful understanding of consumers health concerns and the potential ofthe diet and exercise markets. Consumers are profiled according to theirresponses, allowing you to tailor your marketing and effectively target thegroups with the most sales potential for your product.

The report answers questions such as:

• In what ways has the obesity epidemic impacted the food industry?
• Which consumers are the most concerned about their diets?
• How do the eating habits of regular exercisers differ from the habits of thosewho rarely exercise?
• Which age group is the most likely to exercise on a regular basis?
• What markets are the most receptive to adopting a healthier lifestyle?

Throughout the report, quantitative research is combined with thorough analysis,revealing patterns in consumer behavior, and in the diet and exercise marketoverall. Industry experts and our dedicated US editorial team ensure theaccuracy, relevancy and clarity of the report. As always, the Mintel brand isyour guarantee of quality research and impeccable customer service.

A number of U.S. reports covering related sectors have been published, areplanned, or are in preparation, including:

• Yogurt, consumer intelligence--U.S. Report, June 2003
• Weight Control, consumer intelligence--U.S. Report, June 2003
• FDA-Approved Health Claims, consumer intelligence--U.S. Report, April 2003
• Smoothies and Yogurt Drinks, consumer intelligence--U.S. Report, September2002
• Cereal Bars, consumer intelligence--U.S. Report, September 2002
• Attitudes Towards Health and Pharmaceuticals, consumer intelligence--U.S.Report, March 2002
• Energy Supplements, consumer intelligence--U.S. Report, March 2002
• Eating Habits, Attitudes & Concerns, consumer intelligence--U.S. Report,February 2002
• Ingredient Trends, consumer intelligence--U.S. Report, December 2001
• Diet Aids, consumer intelligence--U.S. Report, October 2001
• Functional Foods, consumer intelligence--U.S. Report, September 2001
• Functional Beverages, consumer intelligence--U.S. Report, September 2001

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION & ABBREVIATIONS

• Introduction
• Other Relevant Reports
• Abbreviations & Terms
• Abbreviations
• Terms

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

• Obesity Reaches Epidemic Proportions
• Exercise: Theory vs. Practice
• The Diet and Dieting Disconnect
• Snacking and Cheating
• Future Strategies

MARKET BACKGROUND

• Introduction
• Increase in Overweight and Obese Americans
  • Figure 1 Incidence of overweight and obese Americans aged 18 and older, 1994-2000
  • Graph 1 Incidence of overweight and obese Americans aged 18 and older, 1994-2000
  • Figure 2 Prevalence of obesity among U.S. adults, selected years, 1991-2000
• Contributing Factors
• Portion Sizes
• Adolescents and Vending Machines
• Ingredient Trends
• The Health Connection
  • Figure 3 the 10 leading causes of death, by gender, 2000
• Diet and Exercise Concerns Among Aging Americans
  • Figure 4 U.S. population projections, by age, 2003 and 2008
• How Many People Are Actively Dieting and Exercising?
  • Figure 5 Usage of weight loss or diet programs in past 12 months, April 2003

ATTITUDES TOWARDS EXERCISE

• Introduction
• Low Incidence of Regular Exercise
  • Figure 6 Overview of attitudes towards exercise, January 2002-September 2002
  • Figure 7 Overview of attitudes towards exercise, by gender, January 2002-September 2002
  • Figure 8 Overview of attitudes towards exercise, by age, January 2002-September 2002
  • Figure 9 Overview of attitudes towards exercise, by household income, January 2002-September 2002
  • Figure 10 Overview of attitudes towards exercise, by race/ethnicity, January 2002-September 2002
• Prevalence of Regular Exercise Programs
  • Figure 11 Frequency of regular exercise program in past 12 months, January 2002-September 2002
  • Figure 12 Frequency of regular exercise program in past 12 months, by gender, January 2002-September 2002
  • Figure 13 Frequency of regular exercise program in past 12 months, by age, January 2002-September 2002
  • Figure 14 Frequency of regular exercise program in past 12 months, by household income, January 2002-September 2002
  • Figure 15 Frequency of regular exercise program in past 12 months, by race/ethnicity, January 2002-September 2002
  • Figure 16 Frequency of regular exercise program in past 12 months, by level of educational attainment, January 2002-September 2002
• Where Respondents Exercise
  • Figure 17 Exercise venue, January 2002-September 2002
  • Figure 18 Exercise Venue, by age, January 2002-September 2002
  • Figure 19 Exercise venue, by household income, January 2002-September 2002
  • Figure 20 Exercise venue, by race/ethnicity, January 2002-September 2002
• Sports and Exercise
  • Figure 21 Frequency of regular exercise program in past 12 months, Cross-Tabulated against, and Indexed by, Top Sports Activities, January 2002-September 2002
• Exercising: Who is really working out?
  • Figure 22 Cross-tabulation of attitude s towards exercise with frequency of exercise, January 2002-September 2002
• Summary & Conclusions

ATTITUDES TOWARDS DIET AND DIETING

• Assessment of Current Diet
  • Figure 23 Assessment of Current Diet, January 2002-September 2002
  • Figure 24 Assessment of current diet, by gender, January 2002-September 2002
  • Figure 25 Assessment of current diet, by age, January 2002-September 2002
• The Most Important Meal
  • Figure 26 Importance of specific meal occasions, January 2002-September 2002
  • Figure 27 Importance of specific meal occasions, by gender, January 2002-September 2002
  • Figure 28 Importance of specific meal occasions, by age, January 2002-September 2002
• Dieting
  • Figure 29 Dieting behavior, January 2002-September 2002
  • Figure 30 Dieting behavior, by gender, January 2002-September 2002
  • Figure 31 Dieting behavior, by age, January 2002-September 2002
• Weight Loss Program Membership
  • Figure 32 Weight loss program membership, June 2003
• Factors Influencing Decision Not to Join a Weight Loss Center
  • Figure 33 Factors influencing decision not to join a weight-loss center or program, June 2003
• Indulging
  • Figure 34 Attitudes to Indulgence, January 2002-September 2002
  • Figure 35 Attitudes to Indulgence, by gender, January 2002-September 2002
  • Figure 36 Attitudes to Indulgence, by age, January 2002-September 2002
  • Figure 37 Attitudes to Indulgence, by race/ethnicity, January 2002-September 2002
• "Good Food" vs. "Junk Food"
  • Figure 38 Good food vs. junk food, January 2002-September 2002
  • Figure 39 Good food vs. junk food, by gender, January 2002-September 2002
  • Figure 40 Good food vs. junk food, by age, January 2002-September 2002
• Snacks, Salty and Sweet
  • Figure 41 Attitudes to Snacking, Snacks and sweets, January 2002-September 2002
  • Figure 42 Attitudes to Snacking, Snacks and sweets, by gender, January 2002-September 2002
  • Figure 43 Attitudes to Snacking, Snacks and sweets, by age, January 2002-September 2002
  • Figure 44 Attitudes to Snacking, Snacks and sweets, by race/ethnicity, January 2002-September 2002
• Summary & Conclusions

ATTITUDES COMPARED WITH BEHAVIOR

• Cheating on their diets?
  • Figure 45 The diets of dieters, January 2002-September 2002
  • Graph 2 The diets of dieters, January 2002-September 2002
• Fast Food/Junk Food
  • Figure 46 Fast food consumption and attitudes concerning diet quality, January 2002-September 2002
  • Graph 3 Fast food consumption and attitudes concerning diet quality, January 2002-September 2002
• Eating Patterns of Healthy Snackers
  • Figure 47 Eating patterns of healthy snackers, January 2002-September 2002
  • Graph 4 Eating patterns of healthy snackers, January 2002-September 2002
• Summary & Conclusions

FUTURE

• Fat Taxes
• Higher Health Insurance Premiums
• Will Diet and Exercise Habits Improve?
• Childhood Obesity Rates
• Declining Cooking Skills

APPENDIX: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

CONSUMER RESEARCH

• Sampling & Weighting
• Presentation & Definition
• Further Analysis

TRADE RESEARCH

• Informal trade research
• Formal trade research

DESK & INTERNET RESEARCH

SOURCES

DEFINITIONS

FORECASTS

APPENDIX: WHAT IS MINTEL?

MINTEL PUBLICATIONS

MINTEL SERVICeS

• Product retrieval
• Retail audits
• Tailored research
• Global New Products Database

RESEARCH SUPPORT/CONSULTANCY/MIC

• The Mintel Information Centre (MiC)
• PR Research