The basics:

• Quest survey finds 92% want to be more proactive about health
• Only 19% know their cholesterol score vs. 47% for streaming passwords
• Stress, poor sleep and lack of exercise cited as key health obstacles
• Younger generations report more barriers to care

Although nearly half of Americans know their streaming platform passwords by heart, only 19% are aware of what their cholesterol score is, according to new data from Quest Diagnostics.

As part of its second “Know Your Health” survey, the Secaucus-based testing provider explored what perceptions and priorities adults have for their well-being in 2025.

After surveying nearly 2,100 individuals, Quest found that 92% of respondents want to take a more active role in their health care journey. However, many said they face obstacles to receiving care, their doctors do not focus enough on preventive care discussions or have gaps in knowledge on important personal health information.

Numbers to know

According to the survey, 70% of respondents rate their current health as good or excellent. In comparison, 30% describe their current overall health as fair or poor.

Among those who categorized their overall health as fair or poor, more than half believe stress (60%), poor sleep (55%), and lack of exercise (51%) are contributing factors, while 30% think loneliness/isolation (30%) is a contributing factor, Quest said.

When it comes to healthy habits that Americans view as a priority, sleep (70%) ranked as the most important followed by proper hydration (65%) and regular exercise (62%).

More than half say they prioritize taking vitamins and supplements (59%), eating a well-balanced diet (54%) and going for an annual physical (53%), the survey said.

As for annual appointments and lab testing, nearly half reported getting bloodwork done each year (47%) and keeping up with preventive screenings (45%) are priorities to them.

More than a quarter (27%) also use health apps or wearables to track vital signs, activity levels, and/or sleep patterns to stay on top of their well-being and make lifestyle adjustments based on the data, the report said.

More specifically, Boomers ages 61-79 (67%) are more likely than Generation Z (45%) or millennials (58%) to say they try to stay physically active to prepare for their future health/health care needs, Quest found.

Barriers to care

According to the survey, social media continues to be a driving force for Americans’ health habits, with 1-in-4 respondents (24%) admitting it’s their source for advice on health topics. Furthermore, one-third (33%) of Americans have acknowledged seeking medical care or testing after seeing someone’s personal health stories shared on social media. That number jumps to more than half for Gen Z (52%) and millennials ages 29-44 (51%), the results said.

While Americans say they are prioritizing healthy behaviors and trying to stay informed about changes in health care policies that could impact them, they also cite challenges to accessing care, Quest said.

Thirty-seven percent say they experienced barriers to receiving medical care in the past 12 months, ranging from long waits for scheduling appointments (10%) and being unsure about insurance coverage (9%) to potential cost considerations of lab work (8%), according to the report.

Barriers increased significantly with each generation: 12% of Boomers, 30% of Generation X, 53% of millennials and 62% of Gen Z. Additionally, 30% of Americans agree their doctor/health care professional does not take the time to talk to them about prevention and wellness, Quest said.

Commenting on the findings, Richard Adams, senior vice president and general manager of Quest’s consumer business, said, “For too long, Americans have been passive recipients of their health care and health information. As the survey shows, many Americans are motivated to take charge of their health, but they may be experiencing barriers to accessing care through traditional channels and are unsure of where to go for support. At Quest, we’re turning that traditional model on its head by giving people access to physician-guided diagnostic lab testing so they can proactively manage their health and feel empowered on their wellness journey.”