Healthways (HWAY), the well-being enhancement company, and statistical research services provider Gallup recently announced the results of the monthly Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index (“WBI”) for October 2011. The overarching WBI measure remained stagnant at a score of 65.6 versus 65.7 in September 2011. The WBI demonstrates that the American people are still struggling for access to basic requirements as reflected by the October score of 81.2, its nadir in four years.
Among the other indices, the Work Environment Index picked up a little to 48 from 47.3 in the sequentially prior month. The Emotional Health Index strengthened marginally to 78.6 in October but this was the lowest score for the month of October in 4 years. In this regard, 57.9% of Americans were free from stress a large part of the previous day, the second lowest statistic in the prior 4 years. The proportion who felt happy picked up to 87.5%.
The Physical Health Index dropped to 76.1 in October, which was in line with expectations. The deterioration of the index was largely due to an increase in the proportion of people afflicted by flu and colds.
The Life Evaluation Index dropped to 46.8, the lowest point after July 2009. Only 50.8% of Americans stated they were thriving, which is also a low point since July 2009. About 4% of Americans stated that they were suffering, which tallies with the results from the prior two months and is the second highest proportion till date.
The Healthy Behavior Index dropped to its lowest score, of 63, for the month of October in the last 4 years. This metric was hurt by a drop in the proportion of Americans who consumed a certain amount of fruits and vegetables, on at least 4 days of the prior week, to 55.2% in October from 56.3% in September.
Healthways is a prominent vendor of specialized and composite solutions, enabling recipients to maintain or improve their well-being, while consequently reducing systemic healthcare costs. The company’s solutions are intended to keep people healthy and mitigate lifestyle risk factors that can cause disease and optimize care for those with chronic illness. Healthways competes with Express Scripts (ESRX) among others.
Gallup is known for providing timely and pertinent research on opinion. The company employs scientists in disciplines, such as economics, sociology, management and psychology. Its consultants identify and monitor behavioral economic indicators on a worldwide basis, thereby enabling companies to increase organic growth.
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