Survey For CIGNA Suggests Health Perception Gap

A new survey commissioned by CIGNA HealthCare shows a majority of Americans think they're in very good to excellent health, but that they're probably too optimistic - and maybe a little bit in denial.

The phone survey of 1,000 adults in February, released Monday, found that 57 percent rated themselves in very good or excellent health. Yet when asked how they think other people view them, the picture starts to look less rosy.

For instance, 54 percent said others would say they need to lose at least 10 pounds. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, however, estimates that two thirds of U.S. adults are actually overweight or obese, health insurer CIGNA said.

"A whopping 75 percent" agree they'd be viewed by others as being in good physical shape, according to the survey, which was conducted by Yankelovich Inc. for Bloomfield-based CIGNA HealthCare. But only 49 percent think others would view them as exercising vigorously at least three days a week.
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