Fact Sheets

Staying Power of Mom's Advice Findings are based on a telephone survey of 500 women in the United States, ages 30-60.

Mom's Role in Family's Health

  • Almost half (44%) of women surveyed consider their mother as a role model when it comes to healthcare.
  • Women believe their mothers, more than any other source, were their primary influence for healthy living.
  • The majority (84%) of survey participants of women report making most or all of the healthcare decisions for their families.
  • Four out of five women (81%) surveyed indicated that their children look to them for health advice.
  • Over half of the women surveyed (51%) felt that the healthy lifestyle of their mothers was valuable or highly valuable to themselves.

Health Advice Passed Down From Mother to Daughter Through Generations

  • Top health advice women recall their mother telling them includes:
    • Wait at least one hour after a meal before swimming (82%).
    • Don't go outside with wet hair, or you'll catch a cold (75%).
    • Drink your milk to build strong bones (73%).
  • Today, women are still incorporating some of Mom's advice into their busy lifestyles.
    • Two out of three (68%) women eat their vegetables to build strong muscles.
    • To build strong bones, 61 percent of survey participants believe that drinking your milk is best.
    • Over half of the women responding to the survey (54%) believe that chicken soup really does help heal a cold.
  • The health advice today's women will pass on to the next generation are those they feel are most scientifically or medically valid.
    • Drink your milk to build strong bones (86%).
    • Eat your vegetables to build strong muscles (72%).

Most Important Health Concerns for Women

  • According to the survey, the three health issues of most concern to women are:
    • Diet and nutrition (77%)
    • Bone health (64%)
    • Skin health (54%)
  • The health issues women plan to discuss with their children are:
    • Diet and nutrition (79%)
    • Smoking (71%)
    • Alcohol (62%)
  • Energy (83%), longevity (70%) and warding off chronic disease (68%) are the most popular motivating factors for women when it comes to taking care of their health. According to the survey, 73% of women acknowledge their risk for osteoporosis. Women take a variety of measures to prevent the onset of osteoporosis including:
    • Exercise by walking (51%)
    • Maintaining a diet rich in calcium and dairy products (48%)
    • Taking calcium supplements (46%).

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