MAINTAINING good health is more important than building personal wealth for most Singaporean and Asia-Pacific high income households, according to a survey released on Thursday.
The Spending Patterns and Perspectives of High Income Households Survey, conducted by Visa in late 2008, showed that some 91 per cent of high income Asia-Pacific households regarded staying fit and healthy an important priority during the next two years.
This is followed by increasing their personal income (84 per cent), creating a better work or life balance (83 per cent) and saving money (83 per cent), reported Xinhua news agency.
The survey polled 4,106 people aged 18 and above from countries and regions such as Singapore, South Korea, Australia, India, Japan, China, China's Hong Kong and Taiwan.
The respondents were from the top 20 to 40 per cent of households for each marketplace.
The survey also showed that 73 per cent of respondents said they exercise at least once a month, with those from South Korea, India and China having the highest proportion of high income earners engaged in regular fitness activities.
