New Years Resolutions DECEMBER 2009 Experian and the marks used herein are service marks or registered trademarks of Experian Information Solutions, Inc. Other product and company names mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners. No part of this copyrighted work may be reproduced, modified, or distributed in any form or manner without the prior written permission of Experian Information Solutions, Inc.
New Years Resolutions New Year s is a time for inner-reflection and self evaluation. And many of us, not happy with what we see, resolve to make important changes in our behaviors, attitudes and lifestyles in the coming year. Losing weight and stopping smoking are certainly some of the most common New Year resolutions, but over 6 million Americans also make plans to remodel a bathroom and 6 million more resolve to make a trip down the aisle. Experian Simmons examines Americans behaviors as they relate to some of the more common resolutions drawing upon findings from the Summer 2009 National Consumer Study.
Weight Watching Using Experian Simmons Waistband segments, we know that 61% of American adults are overweight and more than half of all adults (52%) say they are watching their diet. Fifty-five percent of overweight or obese adults say they are watching their diet, but so are 46% of those who are underweight or normal. The Waistband Segments are created by using respondents self-reported height and weight to determine their Body Mass Index (BMI). Using guidelines set by the CDC and NIH, Experian Simmons then classifies respondents as either underweight, normal, overweight or obese. 54% 58% 46% 17% Normal or Underweight 31% Overweight Obese 42% Presently watching diet Trying to lose weight
Support System Among those adults who say they re watching their diet in order to lose weight, diet clubs like Jenny Craig, NutriSystem and Weight Watchers are the most common non-prescription method adopted regardless of body condition. Eighteen percent of normal or underweight dieters have diet clubs as have 20% of overweight or obese dieters. By contrast, 9% of all dieters have tried meal replacements. 18% 20% 9% 9% 9% 11% 7% 9% Normal or Underweight Meal Replacement Pills Reducing Candies Diet Club Overweight or Obese Base: Adults watching their diet to lose weight
Got a Light? Smoking is a vice that many Americans say they are going to address in the new year. Presently, 18% of adults say they smoke cigarettes and 22% say they use some sort of tobacco product (cigarettes included). Last year, 14.4 million adults tried to quit smoking and 4 million even tried 2 or more different methods. Going cold turkey was the most popular method tried by more than 6.9 million adults, but at the end of the day 82% of those who say they tried to quit still use some sort of smoking tobacco. 6,973,000 Number of adults who tried each antismoking method last year 3,836,000 2,593,000 3,463,000 1,645,000 1,634,000 292,000 Cold Turkey Nicotine Patch Gum Quit Smoking Program Gradual Reduction Hypnosis Other
Homework New Year s resolutions are not always related to personal improvements. Sometimes, they re focused on improving the things around us, like our homes. Nearly one-in-seven U.S. households have plans to undertake a home remodeling project in the next year. Based on those who completed remodeling projects in the last year, about 61% of those projects will be done either all or in part by the homeowner themselves and 49% will call a professional for at least some help. The most common projects planned are 6,268,000 Number of U.S. households planning various remodeling projects next year 3,839,000 2,789,000 2,013,000 1,770,000 1,039,000 1,009,000 656,000 Bathroom Kitchen Basement, Attic, Garage Add a Deck Family Room/Den Add bathroom Add Other Room Add Garage
Wedding Bells or Divorce Papers? In the new year, many Americans will tie the knot and others will decide they re better off on their own. Nearly six million unmarried adults say they expect to get married in the next year. At the same time, there are 1.6 million married or separated Americans who say that it s time to call it quits. Number of adults who plan to marry or separate/divorce in the next year 5,944,000 1,606,000 Expect to Marry Expect to Separate or Divorce Base: Expect to Marry base is unmarried adults; expect to separate or divorce is married or separated adults
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