Would you be surprised to learn that women spend more time surfing the Internet than their male counterparts?
According to the report
Women on the Web: How Women are Shaping the Internet, they spend a good 8% more. These figures include e-mailing, instant messaging and browsing the various social networks, but it also includes the time spent searching for topics of interest.
Apparently, though not surprisingly, the research shows that women have a strong interest in health. Traditionally, women are caregivers, which may partly explain the desire to be health savvy. They are also becoming more aware of the importance of making their own health needs a priority, as well.
Here are the categories health related categories women are looking for:Weight and fitness was among the top five. Searches for Weight Watchers, Taco Bell, LA Fitness, P9OX, Planet Fitness, and Jillian Michaels were the top most searched terms.
Most everyone is familiar with Weight Watchers. This program is based on regular meetings, weight monitoring, and encouragement through group sessions. Dieters are encouraged to aim for a body mass index between 20 and 25. Healthy food choices, recipes, and meal plans are part of the program.
On the other hand, one of the newest diets to emerge is the Taco Bell diet. Dieters can choose among seven Fresco items to facilitate weight loss. The items include tacos and burritos containing less than 9 g of fat and between 150 to 340 calories. However, the sodium content in these foods is rather high. And though the selections may be low-calorie, the nutritional value is questionable.
Women also search
health-related conditions or symptoms. Depression, bipolar disorder, diabetes, fibromyalgia, and gallbladder symptoms were the top five most searched conditions. Since women are two times more likely to experience depression than men, this isn't surprising. It's so important for women to learn all they can about this debilitating disorder and it’s encouraging to learn they may be seeking treatment. In addition, women are also more likely to develop type bipolar II disorder, which may explain the popularity of the search.
Doctor searches made the list as well. Not only were women looking for doctors qualified to treat conditions they were dealing with, the search also include precise doctors names.
WebMD is a popular website for women and the research shows women spend a lot of time there. The site contains information about virtually any disease or disorder women or her loved ones could experience.
Women are also concerned about
health insurance. When you consider that over 17 million women between the ages of 18 and 64 are uninsured, it's easy to understand why. A rocky economy means rising health costs, job loss, and women slipping through the cracks. Most could very well make too much money to get Medicaid yet at the same time make too little to get adequate health insurance. And since women are often insured as a “dependent” on the husband's plan, if she gets a divorce, is widowed, or if her spouse loses his job she risks losing coverage as well.
Apparently, women more in tune with the digital mainstream than men and are much more engaged in Internet exploration. And while they do spend a lot of time looking for coupons and shopping retail, the research shows they have health on their mind, too.
