Less than Half of U.S. Adults Plan on Setting 2022 New Year's Resolutions

Rhea-AI Summary

Medifast (NYSE: MED) released a survey indicating that only 10% of U.S. adults successfully maintain their New Year's resolutions, with 47% breaking theirs within the first month. The intention to set resolutions has dropped to 44% in 2022 from 50% in 2021, attributed mainly to lack of motivation. The survey shows a shift towards manageable lifestyle changes; 58% of respondents prefer gradual habit changes, and 66% favor smaller daily adjustments over quick diets. Medifast's OPTAVIA® supports this approach through community and coaching.

Positive

• Medifast's OPTAVIA program aligns with a notable trend towards sustainable health habits, which may enhance customer engagement.
• The survey results underscore a growing consumer preference for holistic health approaches, potentially increasing demand for Medifast's offerings.

Negative

• The declining interest in New Year's resolutions may suggest a broader challenge for Medifast in attracting new customers.
• Only 10% of U.S. adults stick to their resolutions, indicating a potential market limitation for programs reliant on such goals.

BALTIMORE, Dec. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Medifast (NYSE: MED), the global company behind one of the fastest-growing health and wellness communities, OPTAVIA®, today released findings from a new survey* that revealed a shift in how U.S. adults are approaching New Year's resolutions. According to the survey, only 10% of U.S. adults stick with their resolutions and nearly half (47%) of all resolutions are broken within the first month. Furthermore, the number of people setting resolutions has decreased annually, with just 44% of U.S. adults planning to set a resolution in 2022, compared to 50% in 2021. The primary reason respondents failed to achieve their 2021 resolutions was loss of motivation (48%), followed by not having a plan (30%) or the right support (22%) and setting too many (19%) or overly ambitious goals (15%).

"While the start of the new year once served as a key moment in time to set annual health goals, many are finding that traditionally ambitious resolutions often lead to disappointment and rarely last beyond January," said Dan Chard, Chairman and CEO of Medifast. "Our independent OPTAVIA Coaches encourage Clients to adopt small changes in their daily behaviors to help develop sustainable lifelong healthy habits. Reinforced with the support of a Coach and Community, this approach has already impacted millions of lives and can help many looking for a different way to work toward their goals for the coming year."

Other notable survey findings include:

• The top three resolutions for 2022 include:
• Focusing on financial health (49%)
• Improving health and wellness holistically (46%)
• Focusing on self-care or body positivity (43%)
• The majority of the U.S. adults who will set a 2022 resolution plan to take a different approach: incorporate small changes in to their daily lives throughout the year (58%), set goals that help build healthy habits (49%) and celebrate small victories (42%) along the way.
• Losing weight was the most common New Year's resolution set in 2021 (23%) but also the one most frequently broken (33%).
• To combat previous failures, two-thirds (66%) of U.S. adults would prefer to lose weight through small, daily lifestyle changes rather than fast, short-term diet plans.

Findings suggest that consumers are prioritizing health and wellbeing in all areas of their lives and searching for a better way to accomplish their goals year-round. OPTAVIA offers a radically different approach by combining both an evidence-based system for behavior change, called the Habits of Health® Transformational System, and the support of a Coach and Community. With these tools, small actions taken every day can add up to Lifelong Transformation, One Healthy Habit at a Time®.

About Medifast®:
Medifast (NYSE: MED) is the global company behind one of the fastest-growing health and wellness communities, OPTAVIA®, which offers scientifically developed products, clinically proven plans and the support of Coaches and a Community to help Clients achieve Lifelong Transformation, One Healthy Habit at a Time®. Based on more than 40 years of experience, Medifast has redefined direct selling by combining the best aspects of the model. Its community of independent OPTAVIA Coaches has impacted more than 2 million lives and teaches Clients how to develop holistic healthy habits through the proprietary Habits of Health® Transformational System. Medifast was recognized in 2020 and 2021 as one of FORTUNE's 100 Fastest-Growing Companies and was named to Forbes' 100 Most Trustworthy Companies in America list in 2017. For more information, visit MedifastInc.com or OPTAVIA.com and follow @Medifast on Twitter.

*Methodology:
All percentages and survey findings, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 1,195 adults. The survey was fielded online between October 14 and October 15, 2021, at the 95% confidence level and with a margin of error of +/-3%. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all US adults (aged 18+).

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SOURCE Medifast

FAQ

What percentage of U.S. adults maintain their New Year's resolutions according to Medifast's survey?

According to Medifast's survey, only 10% of U.S. adults stick with their New Year's resolutions.

How many U.S. adults plan to set resolutions in 2022 as per Medifast's findings?

Only 44% of U.S. adults intend to set New Year's resolutions in 2022, down from 50% in 2021.

What are the top three resolutions for 2022 identified in the Medifast survey?

The top three resolutions for 2022 are focusing on financial health (49%), improving health and wellness holistically (46%), and self-care or body positivity (43%).

What approach do most U.S. adults prefer for achieving their resolutions according to Medifast?

Most U.S. adults (58%) prefer making small changes in their daily lives rather than setting overwhelming resolutions.