Will the Recession Make Workers Healthier?

Very often it seems that stories of successful change begin at rock bottom. Experiencing an extreme low prompts transformation. Is it possible that Americans--bloated by years of consumption (of all kinds)--are altering their health habits in the wake of the Great Recession?

A recent survey by the National Business Group on Health suggests some changes are afoot. The survey of 1,500 workers ages 22 to 69 found a majority said that a healthy lifestyle is more important now than it was a year ago. A full third say they are exercising more, and nearly half are eating healthier. (Similarly, 44 percent say they are eating fast-food less often).

Survey answers that indicate workers are more concerned about health care costs--even foregoing prescription drugs or treatments to save money on copays or coinsurance--may be relevant. If you're skipping the doctor's office, you may be trying to compensate by making healthier lifestyle choices.