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Accountants’ Health: Strong in Mental Resilience, But Lifestyle Risks Remain

In 2017, the inaugural Executive Health Index™ revealed that accounting professionals topped the rankings for psychological health but lagged in areas of physical health and lifestyle. Today, the Executive Health Index™ 2024 , published by Executive Health Solutions, shows the profession continues to face similar challenges. Resilience at work remains a strength, but lifestyle and physical health require greater focus.

Read the original coverage in Accountants Daily, which reported on our early findings. 

Executive Health Index™ 2024: How Accountants Rank 

Based on more than 31,000 clinically validated health assessments across 17 industries, the 2024 report highlights where accounting professionals stand today:

  • Overall Health: Ranked 3rd across all industries.
  • Psychological Health: Ranked 5th, a strong position though no longer 1st as in 2017.
  • Physical Health: Ranked 9th, reflecting challenges with aerobic fitness, BMI, waist circumference and musculoskeletal health.
  • Lifestyle Health: Ranked 8th, with nutrition, exercise and alcohol consumption continuing to impact results.
  • Medical Health: Ranked 6th, showing relative stability in cardiovascular and metabolic measures.

Key Findings for Accounting Executives

The latest report revealed concerning health risks among accounting professionals:

  • 62% are overweight or obese.
  • 50% have elevated waist measurements, increasing the risk of chronic disease.
  • 23% report poor or below-average aerobic fitness.
  • 1 in 2 do not meet national physical activity guidelines, with 15% reporting no regular exercise.
  • Almost 1 in 3 drink at harmful levels at least weekly.

Why Health Matters for Accounting Leaders

Executive Health Solutions CEO, John Hall, emphasises that the impact of these findings goes beyond personal wellbeing.

“Overall health contributes directly to performance and productivity, with the impacts amplified when leaders are affected,” he says.

For accounting firms, this means that supporting better physical and lifestyle health is not just about individual outcomes. It directly influences productivity, resilience and leadership stability.

Then vs Now: What Has Changed Since 2017

  • 2017: Accountants ranked 1st in psychological health but slipped to 6th in physical health and 7th in lifestyle factors.
  • 2024: Accountants remain in the top five for mental health, but still outside the top five in physical and lifestyle health.

This consistency highlights both the strength of psychological resilience in the profession and the ongoing opportunity to address physical and lifestyle risks.

The Path Forward

The accounting profession can make meaningful gains in executive wellbeing by:

  • Encouraging regular executive health assessments to detect risks early.
  • Promoting structured nutrition and fitness programs to counter sedentary habits.
  • Embedding wellbeing initiatives in workplace culture, from workload management to flexible work and health-focused policies.

 

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