MOST AMERICAN WOMEN ARE WORRIED ABOUT

THE EFFECT OF STRESS ON THEIR HEALTH

-- Three-Quarters Don''t Get Enough Sleep (78%)

& Almost All (94%) Want To Lose Weight --

NEW YORK, May 1 - What concerns American women most about their health? Stress, sleep and weight loss top the list, according to an exclusive national poll by Fitness magazine.

A whopping 89% of women said they''re worried about the effect stress has on their health. So how do American women de-stress? For 64%, finding quiet time alone is key; 29% do aerobic exercise and 11% practice yoga.

Only 21% of women get the recommended eight hours of sleep a night. More than half get six to seven hours per night (56%), and for 22%, it''s less than six hours.

Thinner thighs beat longer life, according to the Fitness poll, which asked: given the choice, would you rather live to be 100 or lose 20 pounds permanently? More than half would lose the weight (54%).

Only 6% of American women say they don''t want to lose weight. The first step for those who do? For 76%, it was cutting back on junk food and alcohol. Other findings:

* 86% said men are more hesitant to go to the doctor than women.

* If someone gave them a magic pill so that they could eat whatever they wanted and not gain weight, but it increased their cancer risk by 10%, 24% of women would take it.

* Universal health care? Only 29% of women believe it will happen in their lifetime.

* Period-free permanently: 56% of women would get rid of their period, as long as there are no negative side effects. 29% like the idea but wonder if it''s healthy, and 7% prefer not to mess with nature.

Fitness polled 998 women online during February 16 - 28, 2001. The findings are reported in the June 2001 issue of the magazine.

This article provided by www.HealthNewsDigest.com