Herbalife survey finds wellness habits outpacing health gains

MANILA — More Filipinos are embracing fitness, healthier eating, and mental wellness, but their growing commitment to self-care is not always translating into improvements in their overall health, according to a new survey by global nutrition and wellness company Herbalife.

The findings highlight a widening gap between people’s efforts to adopt healthier lifestyles and their ability to sustain habits that produce lasting physical, mental, and emotional benefits.

For Filipino households, the challenge extends beyond personal motivation, raising questions about access to affordable nutrition, reliable health information, supportive communities, and opportunities to maintain healthy routines amid everyday financial and work pressures.

Herbalife’s Asia Pacific Wellness Culture Survey 2026 found that 76% of Filipino respondents engage in a wider variety of wellness activities than they did three years ago, while 74% participate in these activities more frequently.

The survey also revealed that 91% consider holistic health extremely important, with 83% saying it matters more to them today than three years ago.

Despite the growing interest, only 58% of respondents reported improvements in their physical health over the past three years, while 61% said their mental health had improved and 59% reported better emotional well-being.

The figures suggest that increased participation in wellness activities does not necessarily guarantee better perceived health outcomes, particularly when people struggle to maintain consistent routines.

Herbalife Philippines General Manager Kinki Lau said the findings reflect a growing awareness of personal health alongside persistent challenges in maintaining long-term lifestyle changes.

“We’re seeing a significant shift in how Filipinos approach wellness, with more people taking a proactive role in pursuing their health goals. However, intention alone is not enough to sustain this momentum. We must recognize the wellness gap and address the need for proper guidance, sustained motivation, and accessible wellness education,” Lau said.

The survey, conducted in May 2026, gathered responses from more than 10,000 consumers across 11 Asia-Pacific markets, including the Philippines.

Its findings reflect respondents’ assessments of their own health and wellness activities rather than independently measured medical outcomes.

The results also do not establish whether increased wellness activities directly caused improvements in participants’ health.

Healthier habits face everyday challenges

The survey identified time constraints and difficulties maintaining motivation as obstacles preventing consumers from consistently pursuing their wellness goals.

These challenges arise even among individuals who recognize the importance of exercise, healthy eating, sufficient sleep, and stress management.

Herbalife said the gap between wellness intentions and outcomes highlights the need for practical guidance, sustained encouragement, and accessible health education.

Broader consumer research points to similar concerns.

An Innova Market Insights report published in 2025 identified sleep, stress, and anxiety among consumers’ leading health concerns, while younger adults were increasingly paying attention to brain health, skin health, and hormonal balance.

Technology is also playing a growing role in how Filipinos monitor their health and make lifestyle decisions.

According to PwC’s 2025 Voice of the Consumer report, 53% of Filipino respondents used wearable technology for exercise, while 44% used it for dieting.

The report also found that 67% considered nutritional value an important factor when purchasing food.

However, financial pressures continue to complicate healthier lifestyle choices.

The same PwC study, which included 501 Filipino respondents, found that 47% could meet their monthly financial obligations but had little or nothing left for savings or leisure.

These findings provide additional context for the challenges consumers face in maintaining healthier habits while managing household expenses.

Filipinos seek stronger wellness support

Herbalife’s survey also found substantial demand for support networks that could help consumers maintain healthier lifestyles.

About 73% of respondents wanted more support for their physical health, while 55% sought additional assistance for mental health and 50% for emotional well-being.

The findings suggest that social connections and shared routines may play an important role in helping people remain committed to wellness activities.

Herbalife described this emerging approach as “social wellness,” in which friends, families, workplaces, and communities encourage one another to pursue healthier lifestyles.

The concept shifts some attention from individual responsibility toward environments that make regular physical activity, healthy eating, and emotional support easier to sustain.

The survey found that more than half of Filipino respondents had either prepared or brought healthier food for others or shared their personal wellness experiences with someone during the past year.

Among those respondents, 92% said they were doing these activities more frequently than three years ago.

The findings indicate growing interest in making wellness a shared activity rather than an entirely individual pursuit.

Fitness communities gain momentum

The growing popularity of running clubs, pickleball, and community-based fitness activities illustrates how social interaction is becoming part of the country’s wellness culture.

Pickleball, in particular, has gained attention through the development of dedicated courts and its appeal as a group activity combining exercise and recreation.

Running clubs have likewise attracted Filipinos seeking both physical fitness and social connections through organized group activities.

Herbalife said these activities demonstrate the potential of shared experiences to encourage participation and help individuals maintain their motivation over time.

Digital fitness platforms and social media communities are also providing additional ways for people to exchange information, monitor progress, and encourage one another.

The company highlighted the emergence of “phygital” wellness models, which combine physical gatherings with digital platforms to make health-related activities more accessible and interactive.

Such arrangements could allow participants to maintain connections and receive encouragement even when work schedules, travel, or other responsibilities prevent them from regularly attending in-person activities.

Herbalife also cited its Nutrition Clubs in the Philippines as examples of community spaces where participants exchange nutrition and fitness information, discuss their progress, and encourage one another.

The company, which has operated since 1980 and sells nutrition and wellness products through independent distributors in more than 90 markets, said it intends to strengthen community-based wellness initiatives.

“At Herbalife, we are committed to being at the forefront of this movement, building wellness communities and supporting Filipinos make lasting, positive changes in their health and wellness journey.”

While community participation can provide encouragement, improvements in health also depend on factors such as appropriate nutrition, physical activity, access to healthcare, and individual circumstances.