MANILA – The financial impact of an unhealthy lifestyle have made Filipinos more conscious about their health.
Results of a survey by Hong Kong-based AIA Group – Philam Life’s parent company – showed that 84 percent of the 750 respondents from Manila, Cebu and Davao were not satisfied with their current health status.
The survey was also conducted in Australia, Cambodia, mainland China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Korea, Macau, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.
In the Philippines, it revealed that Filipinos are spending more time engaging in fitness-related activities.
From 2.1 hours per week based on the 2016 AIA Healthy Living Index, the respondents said they now exercise 3.7 hours per week.
The reasons for this longer period spent working out are to “have more energy” (66 percent) and “reduce common illness” (56 percent).
Amid the increase in time spent being fit, this year’s survey – the fourth since 2011 – showed that 46 percent of the Filipino respondents maintained their diet programs after starting one.
The 56 percent of the respondents who said they want to “reduce common illness” stressed that they want to “live longer.”
About 53 percent added they want to “reduce risks of critical illness” which they said entail financial woes.
Eighty-six percent of the respondents said they are concerned about the potential cost of critical illness – with 81 percent fearing cancer the most in part because of the cost of treatment, which is the highest rate in the region for this year’s survey.
Moreover, 75 percent admitted they may not be able to afford cancer treatment, while the financial gap for heart disease is 67 percent and for diabetes, 55 percent.
About 78 percent expect the government to cover the cost of critical illness while 56 percent leans on charities or trust.
The survey results also revealed that 27 percent of the respondents said they will use their personal savings for the treatment while the 19 percent rely on insurance plan.
These figures resulted in the increase of the Philippines’ index ranking across the region from 61 to 66, the highest increase among the covered countries. (With a report from the Philippine News Agency/PN)
