Herbalife discovers that working ladies in Singapore more sedentary than men

Herbalife, a global nutrition company, has uncovered differences in the health attitudes and lifestyle habits of working men and women in Singapore. The Nutrition at Work* survey revealed that women in Singapore have a higher tendency to spend more time at their work desks, lunch more often at their desks, and find it harder to stay active during the average work day compared to men.

“As a global nutrition company, our goal is to provide members and their customers with quality nutrition products designed to help people eat right and get active,” said Dr Luigi Gratton, Vice President of Worldwide Nutrition Education at Herbalife. “These survey results underscore the growing need for us to take steps towards inspiring positive nutrition practices and healthy, active living among working women in Singapore in order to cultivate a healthier workforce.”

Some of the key findings include:

· Nine in 10 women in Singapore spend more than six hours at their desk each day, compared to eight in 10 men, showing that women have a higher tendency to spend more time at their desks on an average work day.

· A third (34%) of women get more than 30 minutes of physical activity during the work day—the recommended level of moderate physical activity per day recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) — compared to 42% of men who get more than 30 minutes of physical activity during the work day.

As Herbalife is dedicated to inspiring both men and women to live healthy active lifestyles, the survey unveiled noteworthy differences in the exercise and diet habits of men and women, including:

· Thirteen percent of working women in Singapore exercise more than three times a week, lower than the Asia Pacific average of 15%.

· One in five (22%) of working men in Singapore engage in physical activity more than three times a week, slightly above the Asia Pacific average of 20%.

· Four in 10 (44%) Singapore women said they have lunch at their desks at least twice per week, compared to 38% of men.

Comparing the findings against the Asia Pacific average, which showed that 58% of women and 50% of men eat lunch at their desks more than twice a week, results reveal:

· Singapore workers tend to lead largely sedentary lifestyles, though they still understand the need to step away from their desks to engage in physical activity.

· Eighty-one percent of women and 74% of men recognise weight gain as a top health concern in Singapore – surpassing even the regional average of 77% of women and 71% of men.

· Two-thirds of men and women in Singapore actually strive to live a healthy, active life, with over six in 10 men and women saying they would be more encouraged to stay active if physical activity were part of their corporate culture.

Overall, while survey respondents recognise the importance of living a healthy active lifestyle, they also highly value the role that corporate culture plays in helping them achieve that lifestyle.

*Herbalife’s Nutrition At Work survey was conducted in March 2016, with 5,500 respondents aged 18 and above, from Australia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.

All images from Herbalife infographic.

Small steps towards a fitter lifestyle add up over time: Herbalife

Asians are looking to branch out beyond yoga and tai chi, but have to tailor their fitness regimes to take into account the extremes in weather in the region and the way they work, said Samantha Clayton, Director, Worldwide Fitness Education, Herbalife.
 
"The air quality may not be good, or it can be too hot or humid. You work with what you've got," she said. "Making fitness part of the lifestyle is key. People here are very enthusiastic once they understand that fitness is simple and practical," the former Olympian said.

Small changes can lead to big changes over a lifetime, Clayton explained. For example, exercises can be done while sitting on an office chair. "Once you're sitting still, it's natural to feel tired, and five minutes is better than none. You could do some squats, grab a book and lift it over your head," she said. "During a conference call, there's no need to sit in a chair."

Source: Herbalife. Clayton.

Clayton also pointed out that proper nutrition has to go hand in hand with fitness, even though everyone has busy lifestyles and fast food and processed foods are everywhere. "We tend to reach for what is available. If you're busy, it requires planning, but you should know how to eat."

"Why not plan ahead and resist the pitfalls of reaching for a donut?" she asked, suggesting a protein shake which is "just two scoops of powder with water" or a banana instead.  

Some simple tips from Clayton towards a fitter you: 

Think of the long term benefits of a banana - rich in nutrients - over a donut - dense in calories. Protein-rich snacks tend to keep you fuller for longer, too. Once you start with the nutrition you have more energy, you want to exercise.

It is not about eliminating foods. You just need to control the portion size; don't overdo it. If you are putting fuel into your body and just sitting at your desk, your body will turn it into fat. Think before you eat. Does the body need the fuel or not?

Hydration is also important. A lot of times, people mistake thirst for hunger. If you are sweating you have to drink more water. The key is that if you sit at your desk at work then you have that fluid there throughout the day, and you can remind yourself to drink.

Follow the dictates of the weather. If the pollution index is very high, don't go out, but don't use it as an excuse not to move, either. Take your workout indoors; find something to do, like jogging on the spot, or taking the stairs.

Take 5 minutes out of every hour at the office to do some stretching or exercise while on your chair. The movement wil make you feel good and may help you to resist a snack. 

Clayton says many of the Herbalife distributors have thanked her for showing them a new approach to keeping fit. "They tend to say 'I thought exercise was complicated'. When I return to a country, they tell me they've been inspired to walk and to take note of their nutrition. And they can't help but change someone else."

Herbalife brings new SKIN range to Asia Pacific

Herbalife, the nutrition company, has introduced the Herbalife SKIN skincare line to markets in Asia Pacific. The Herbalife SKIN line is a new addition to Herbalife’s outer nutrition range of products that balances ingredients, botanicals, and extracts with science to achieve beautiful, healthier and younger-looking skin.

Herbalife SKIN products have been formulated with an optimum blend of vitamin B3 and antioxidant vitamins C and E plus aloe vera to get softer, smoother, more radiant skin while diminishing fine lines and wrinkles. Created to replenish and rejuvenate the skin with fast results, Herbalife SKIN has been clinically proven to produce visible results in seven days*.
 
The Herbalife SKIN line is comprised of 10 new products: a Soothing Aloe Cleanser, Polishing Citrus Cleanser, Energizing Herbal Toner, Line Minimizing Serum, Firming Eye Gel, Hydrating Eye Cream, Daily Glow Moisturizer, Replenishing Night Cream, Instant Reveal Berry Scrub and Purifying Mint Clay Mask.

Made with fruit extracts, essential oils, plant enzymes, chamomile, and antioxidant vitamins, the SKIN line is unisex and is suitable for all skin types, with the exception of two cleansers: Soothing Aloe Cleanser for normal to dry skin, and Polishing Citrus Cleanser for normal to oily skin.
 

The Herbalife SKIN simplifies choices with three skincare programmes – Basic, Advanced or Ultimate – which combine products from the range to address specific skincare concerns and deliver tailored results to consumers.

· The Basic Program includes Soothing Aloe Cleanser or Polishing Citrus Cleanser, Energizing Herbal Toner, Daily Glow Moisturizer and Replenishing Night Cream

· The Advanced Program includes Basic Program items with the addition of Line Minimizing Serum, Firming Eye Gel and Hydrating Eye Cream

· The Ultimate Program includes all the products in the Advanced Program, plus the Purifying Mint Clay Mask and Instant Reveal Berry Scrub

The Line Minimizing Serum, Daily Glow Moisturizer and Night Replenishing Cream have been clinically proven to improve the skin softness, smoothness, radiance, glow and luminosity in seven days. The Hydrating Eye Cream, Line Minimizing Serum, Daily Glow Moisturizer and Night Replenishing Cream reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles significantly in seven days.

The Herbalife SKIN range will be made available in selected markets across Asia Pacific starting mid-June 2014, and will be rolled out progressively in the additional Asia Pacific markets by 2015. The entire range is paraben-free, sulphate-free** and dermatologist tested. 

*Seven-day results applicable to Line Minimizing Serum, Replenishing Night Cream, Daily Glow Moisturizer, Hydrating Eye Cream, Polishing Citrus Cleanser & Purifying Mint Clay Mask.

**Applies to Polishing Citrus Cleanser, Soothing Aloe Cleanser, and Instant Reveal Berry Scrub.

All images from Herbalife.