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WASHINGTON & NASHVILLE, Tenn.--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--Gallup and Healthways, Inc. (NASDAQ: HWAY) today released findings from the monthly Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index (WBI) for October 2011, which remained steady with a composite score of 65.6 compared with 65.7 for September. The WBI also reveals, however, that Americans continue to struggle with access to basic necessities, as demonstrated by this monthas score of 81.2, the lowest in four years. This decline was affected by the 20 percent of Americans who did not have enough money to buy food in the last 12 months.

Other findings:

• The Life Evaluation Index declined to 46.8, its lowest point since July 2009. 50.8 percent of Americans reported they are thriving, the lowest percentage since July 2009. Four percent of Americans reported they are suffering, which matches the last two months as the second highest percentage on record.
• The Emotional Health Index improved slightly to 78.6 in October but is still the lowest October score in four years. 57.9 percent of Americans were without stress aa lot of the day yesterday,a the second lowest percentage in four years. The percent experiencing happiness and who smiled and laughed aa lot of the day yesterdaya both improved to 87.5 percent and 82.2 percent, respectively.
• The Healthy Behavior Index alsorecorded its lowest October score in four years (63.0). These numbers were influenced by a decrease in the percentage of Americans that ate at least five servings of fruits and vegetables at least four days in the last week from 56.3 in September to 55.2 in October. The percentage of Americans exercising 30 minutes or more at least three days in the last week, however, did improve to 52.2 in October from 51.9 in September.
• The Physical Health Index declined to 76.1 in October, as expected. This decline was due mostly to the increase in the percentage of those affected by daily colds and flu, up to 7.3 percent and 2.1 percent, from 5.5 percent and 1.8 percent, respectively, in September.
• The Work Environment Index improved slightly to 48.0 in October from Septemberas 47.3.

To download the full October report, click [ here ].

For more on the science and methodology behind the WBI, please visit [ www.well-beingindex.com ].

About Healthways

Healthways is the leading provider of specialized, comprehensive solutions to help millions of people maintain or improve their health and well-being and, as a result, reduce overall costs. Healthwaysa solutions are designed to keep healthy people healthy, reduce health-related risks and optimize care for those with chronic illness. Our proven, evidence-based programs provide highly specific and personalized interventions for each individual in a population, irrespective of age or health status, and are delivered to consumers by phone, mail, Internet and face-to-face interactions, both domestically and internationally. Healthways also provides a national, fully accredited complementary and alternative Health Provider Network and a national Fitness Center Network, offering convenient access to individuals who seek health services outside of, and in conjunction with, the traditional health care system. For more information, please visit [ http://www.healthways.com ].