What would Canadians give up to add five years to their lives?

Nearly 6-in-10 Canadians would be willing to give up beer, alcohol and wine

TORONTO , Dec. 9 /CNW/ - Many Canadians would not be willing to give up indulgences like watching television (55 per cent), red meat (45 per cent) and alcohol (34 per cent), even if it would add five healthy years to their lives, according to a recent RBC Insurance survey.

The survey found that more than three-quarters of Canadians (76 per cent) agree that they maintain healthy eating habits most of the time. However, men appear to have less willpower when it comes to some indulgences. In fact, half of men (50 per cent) are unwilling to give up red meat to add five healthy years to their lives compared to four-in-ten women (40 per cent). Men are also less willing to give up alcohol (39 per cent) for those extra five years compared to women (28 per cent).

"The holidays are the time of year when many Canadians give in to temptation and indulge in their favourite treats," said Dr. Robert Snihura , chief medical director, RBC. "A healthier lifestyle can improve one's physical fitness, increase energy levels, help prevent illness and reduce stress, which may ultimately increase longevity."

The poll also shows that more than half of Canadians (55 per cent) feel there is too much stress in their lives, with parents particularly vulnerable to stress. Seven-in-ten (69 per cent) Canadian households with children admitted there is too much stress in their lives, compared to 51 per cent of households without kids. Stress amongst parents seems to be increasing as 57 per cent indicated that they feel more stressed and anxious than they did two years ago.

"High levels of stress can lead to increased health problems as you get older so it's important to protect your family with the right type of insurance policy," said Cathy Preston , head of Life and Health, RBC Insurance.

Canadian parents are concerned about the effects of a death or disability, as three quarters (76 per cent) of Canadians with children worry about what would happen to their family if their income dropped because of death or illness, but only 68 per cent feel like they have enough life insurance for their family's needs.

"The survey suggests that some Canadians are not confident they have enough life insurance," said Preston. "To assist them, a free online customized life insurance guide is available to help determine what type and amount of life insurance they need to protect their family's financial future."

For more information about the life insurance guide, visit www.rbcinsurance.com/guide.

About this survey

These are some of the findings of an RBC omnibus conducted by Ipsos Reid between November 2 and November 5, 2009 . This online survey of 1,032 Canadian adults was conducted via the Ipsos I-Say Online Panel, Ipsos Reid's national online panel. The results are based on a sample where quota sampling and weighting are employed to balance demographics and ensure that the samples composition reflects that of the actual Canadian population according to Census data. With a representative sample of this size, the results are considered accurate to within +/-3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20. Margins of error for regions will vary.

For further information: Margie McNeil, RBC Insurance, [phone], [email protected]; Angela Gordon, RBC Insurance, [phone], [email protected]