# How people connect habits with long-term health Canonical page: https://data.verasight.io/health/how-people-connect-habits-with-long-term-health/ Published: 2026-05-29 > Featured topic in Health. Adults point to personal health behaviors as the biggest driver of well-being, with exercise patterns showing how prevention enters daily life. ## Overview: Habits and prevention This topic starts with how adults describe their health, then looks at what they believe shapes long-term well-being. Personal health behaviors lead the list of perceived health drivers, while physical activity and clinician advice show how prevention enters ordinary routines. ## Most adults describe their health positively A 79.1% share rated their physical health as good, very good, or excellent. Mental health ratings were similar, with 77.1% choosing good, very good, or excellent. ## Personal behaviors lead the health drivers A 54.7% majority selected personal health behaviors, including diet, exercise, sleep, substance use, and stress management, as the greatest influence on overall health and well-being. That response puts habits ahead of financial stability, access to healthcare, social support, physical environment, and work conditions. ## Exercise shows the prevention gap A 60.4% share said they already engage in regular physical activity, while others said they intend to start or do not plan to start soon. A 23.7% share said a doctor or health professional told them in the past year to increase muscle-strengthening exercise to lower disease risk. ## Supporting evidence ### 54.7% say personal health behaviors have the greatest impact on well-being. Question: Which of the following do you believe has the greatest impact on your overall health and well-being? Note: A majority selected personal health behaviors, including diet, exercise, sleep, substance use, and stress management, as the greatest influence on overall health and well-being. Topline: - Personal health behaviors (e.g. diet, exercise, sleep, substance use, stress management): 54.7% - Financial stability: 12.9% - Access to healthcare: 10.9% - Social relationships and support: 10.4% - Physical environment (e.g., housing, neighborhood safety, etc.): 6.3% - Work or job conditions: 2.6% - Other: 2.2% ### 60.4% say they already engage in regular physical activity. Question: Do you do engage in regular physical activity as described above? Note: Six-in-ten adults said they already engage in regular physical activity, while others reported intentions to start. Topline: - Yes, I have been for more than 6 months.: 43.2% - Yes, I have been, but for less than 6 months.: 17.2% - No, but I intend to start regular physical activity in the next 30 days.: 16.1% - No, but I intend to start regular physical activity in the next 6 months.: 12.9% - No, and I do not intend to start regular physical activity in the next 6 months.: 10.5% ### 23.7% were told to increase muscle-strengthening exercise. Question: To lower your risk for certain diseases, during the last 12 months have you ever been told by a doctor or health professional to increase your muscle-strengthening exercise (e.g., resistance training, body weight exercise)? Note: About one-quarter said a doctor or health professional told them to increase muscle-strengthening exercise in the past year. Topline: - No: 71.2% - Yes: 23.7% - I don't know: 5.0% ## Methodology - Mode: Verasight panel recruited via random address-based sampling, random person-to-person text messaging, and dynamic online targeting - Population: US adults age 18+ - Field dates: 2026-05-01 → 2026-05-04 - Base (unweighted): 1,000 - Margin of error: +/- 3.2% - Module: 1 - Sponsor: Verasight - Weight variable: weight - Weighting targets: age, race/ethnicity, sex, income, education, region, metropolitan status ## Sources - [In general, would you say your physical health is:](https://reports.verasight.io/r/sbm-2026#q-A.1): reports.verasight.io/r/sbm-2026: Most adults rated their physical and mental health as good, very good, or excellent. - [In general, would you say your mental health is:](https://reports.verasight.io/r/sbm-2026#q-A.2): reports.verasight.io/r/sbm-2026: Most adults rated their physical and mental health as good, very good, or excellent. - [Which of the following do you believe has the greatest impact on your overall health and well-being?](https://reports.verasight.io/r/sbm-2026#q-A.10): reports.verasight.io/r/sbm-2026: A majority selected personal health behaviors, including diet, exercise, sleep, substance use, and stress management, as the greatest influence on overall health and well-being. - [Do you do engage in regular physical activity as described above?](https://reports.verasight.io/r/sbm-2026#q-A.11): reports.verasight.io/r/sbm-2026: Six-in-ten adults said they already engage in regular physical activity, while others reported intentions to start. - [During the past 7 days, on how many days were you physically active for at least 60 minutes per day?](https://reports.verasight.io/r/sbm-2026#q-A.12): reports.verasight.io/r/sbm-2026: Recent physical activity varied across the week, from no active days to seven active days. - [To lower your risk for certain diseases, during the last 12 months have you ever been told by a doctor or health professional to increase your muscle-strengthening exercise (e.g., resistance training, body weight exercise)?](https://reports.verasight.io/r/sbm-2026#q-A.13): reports.verasight.io/r/sbm-2026: About one-quarter said a doctor or health professional told them to increase muscle-strengthening exercise in the past year. ## Citation SBM Omnibus Survey #2026-049, fielded May 1-4, 2026, N=1,000 US adults age 18+, +/- 3.2%. Canonical question URL: [https://reports.verasight.io/r/sbm-2026#q-A.1](https://reports.verasight.io/r/sbm-2026#q-A.1)