Healthy is as healthy does - supplement users make better lifestyle choices survey finds
WASHINGTON — When it comes to making lifestyle choices, those who take dietary supplements seem to make healthier choices overall, compared with those who do not take dietary supplements, according to the most recent CRN Consumer Survey on Dietary Supplements from Ipsos Public Affairs on behalf of the Council for Responsible Nutrition.
Consistent with years past, the survey found that 68% of U.S. adults take dietary supplements, and those supplement users are more likely than non-supplement users to also engage in certain other healthy habits.
“It’s clear that supplement users, for the most part, are not just popping pills in lieu of putting in the hard work it takes to be healthy, but instead are very health conscious and view their supplement use as one of the things they do to promote good health,” stated Judy Blatman, SVP of communications, CRN. “There is no magic bullet for good health, and supplement users seem to understand the importance of combining, rather than isolating, healthy practices. It’s the total lifestyle that’s going to help you feel good and stay fit, and taking supplements is one piece of that lifestyle.”
More than three-quarters of all adults believe that taking supplements is a smart choice for a healthy lifestyle. When asked why they take supplements, 53% of supplement users said they took dietary supplements for overall health and wellness; 35% said it was to fill in nutrient gaps in their diet.
At 76%, the multivitamin was found to be the most popular dietary supplement among supplement users, according to the survey. This is also consistent with data from years past. “A daily multivitamin is beneficial for almost everyone, at any stage in life, playing an important role in filling nutrient gaps, and serving as an affordable and convenient insurance policy for getting valuable nutrients,” commented Duffy MacKay, VP of scientific and regulatory affairs, CRN. “Engage your doctor, nurse practitioner, pharmacist or other healthcare practitioner about which supplements fit your personal lifestyle and life stage.”
The 2012 CRN Consumer Survey on Dietary Supplements was conducted August 27 to 31, 2012 by Ipsos Public Affairs and funded by CRN. The survey was conducted online and included a national sample of 2,006 adults ages 18 years and older from Ipsos’ U.S. online panel. The survey has been conducted annually since 2000.