As Americans set ambitious health goals for 2026, many reports from different sources reveal a lot of information for their health needs and preferences. Their needs are beyond traditional healthcare. They are prioritising daily wellness habits, preventive checkups, and personalized approaches to health.
In this article, we will find out the common health goals for Americans, why setting these goals is a necessity in 2026, what are their preference in their health needs and much more
Health goals for Americans in 2026
Let us see some of the common health goals people plan based on their needs, age and preferences.
Prioritise metabolic health: Focus on maintaining healthy blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Take regular check-ups and improve lifestyle habits.
Improve physical strength and mobility: With age, bone and muscle strength become crucial for functional independence. People set goals for resistance training and workouts.
Work on sleep quality: Many people now aim to improve sleep quality. They know the benefits of sleep for cellular repair, brain and overall health.
Building mental-health resilience: Maintaining memory, focus, mood, and resilience against stress is one of the top priorities. Stress management is a big priority. In the US, there is increased demand for all kinds of mental boosts (mood support, mood balance, emotional wellbeing, and memory, concentration, and focus).
Longevity goals: Aging gracefully requires preparation of the body and the mind. People are now focusing on a phytonutrient rich diet, mitochondrial health, reducing oxidative stress and inflammation.
These goals highlight that Americans are looking for maintaining long term wellness goals. Setting realistic goals is more important than setting unrealistic ones. Healthy lifestyle and filling nutrient gaps are the best ways to support your healthcare journey.
What can be done to achieve your health goals in 2026?
Maintaining healthy lifestyle habits and preventing nutrient deficiencies can support you in your healthcare journey.
Let us understand the nutrient needs in different age groups:
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In your 30s, you should plan for setting a foundational support and monitor your intake of omega-3, vitamin D, magnesium, and probiotics.
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In your 40s, your mindset should be in maintenance mode. You should keep vitality high, manage stress, and avoid burnout. CoQ10, omega-3, vitamin D are some of the nutrients you may consider to support your energy levels. Discuss with your healthcare provider.
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In your 50s you should aim for a “prevent decline” mindset. You may work on reducing oxidative stress and inflammation. NMN, omega-3, CoQ10, magnesium, vitamin D, curcumin are some of the nutrients that you may need to consider or monitor at this age.
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In your 60s, optimizing mobility, immunity & cognitive health become your top priorities so you look for options that support both the body and the mind.
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In your 70s and above, you want to be more independent. You aim for covering specific nutrient deficiencies common at this age. Your aim is to preserve function, preserve muscle and balance, reduce inflammation, and support mental health.
Overall, one should aim to achieve vital nutrients required based on age and needs. Healthy food and supplements are the options to consider after consulting your healthcare provider.
Why do these health goals matter more in 2026?
This section will highlight some of the data on health issues among Americans from the past to the present
Our Nutriessential team worked on collecting data from different research studies and we found the following on metabolic health crisis, mental health concerns and lifestyle gaps.
Prevalence of Optimal Metabolic Health in American Adults: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2009–2016
A study published in the journal Metabolic Syndrome and Related Disorders found that only 1 in 8 Americans is achieving optimal metabolic health. Poor metabolic health increases the risk of Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and other health issues. Metabolic health is defined by optimal levels of blood glucose, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein or HDL cholesterol, blood pressure and waist circumference (without medications)
Trends and Disparities in Cardiometabolic Health Among U.S. Adults, 1999-2018
According to a study published in JACC journals, only 6.8% of adults have optimal cardiometabolic health.
Prevalence of metabolic syndrome in the United States National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011–18
A study published in the Postgraduate Medical Journal, The prevalence of metabolic syndrome in US adults increased during 2011–18, notably in participants with low educational attainment. The results of this study highlight that lifestyle modifications are required for achieving metabolic health.
The State of Mental Health in America 2025
The prevalence of mental health concerns among adults has not changed from 2021 to 2024. In 2024, 23.40% of U.S. adults experienced any mental illness (AMI) in the past year, equivalent to over 60 million people.Mental health among youth in the U.S. improved from 2023 to 2024. But still, young people are struggling.Access to care remains out of reach
1 in 4 youth lack preventive care.
CDC stats:
From 2007–2008 through 2017–2018, the prevalence of dietary supplement use increased in all age groups among U.S. adults.
Nutritional gaps in Americans
A study published in Nutrients highlights the status of nutritional deficiency among Americans. Nutrient insufficiency of multiple nutrients negatively impacts health.
This study found that 45% of the U.S. population had a prevalence of inadequacy for vitamin A, C,D, E and zinc by 45 %, 46%, 95%, 84% and 15%. Dietary supplements can help address nutrient inadequacy for these immune-support nutrients, the study concluded.
Another study from Nutrients in 2025, concluded that 10 essential nutrients that have a role in preventing diet-related disease are consumed inadequately in the US. Their consumption should be prioritised. The highest-priority nutrients, as per this study, included vitamin D, vitamin E, calcium, magnesium, and dietary fiber. Vitamin D, omega-3 fatty acids, zinc, folate, and potassium are lacking in specific age groups.
These studies indicate that Americans are not meeting daily nutrient targets. To cover these nutrient gaps, they need to combine self-care with lifestyle changes, nutrition tracking, and targeted supplementation.
It is always important to discuss with your healthcare provider before starting any supplements.
Shift in focus to self-care in 2026
There is a huge shift in focus to self-care among Americans. The concept of personalised care is on the rise. People have thoughts like, “I want to stay healthy”, “ I want to boost my immunity”, “I want to sleep well”, etc.
Men and women have special formulated supplements that tailor to their specific needs. For example, Brain-mood health supplements are formulated using research-backed ingredients such as vitamin B12, theanine, and tryptophan.
The above data from different research studies suggest that, people are setting health goals because
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They are frequently facing issues of fatigue and they want a natural solution to overcome it.
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They need stable metabolic health
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The aging population needs strength, mobility, and independence.
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People are exposed to an overstimulated lifestyle. They are not experiencing good quality sleep.
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Stress is everywhere like an epidemic so there is a need for mental resilience.
How Americans Are Responding: Supplements and Lifestyle Shifts
More Americans are using technology to monitor their health, including mobile apps and AI, according to Michigan Public.
New surveys constantly highlight that Americans prefer personalized care insights from their health tech.
Emerging role of supplements in achieving health goals
Many Americans consider supplementation as part of their wellness strategy.
One in three US consumers are troubled with issues of low energy. This is the main reason why they are turning to energy solutions like natural herbal energy boosts for daily use.
Women are mostly concerned with mood and stress relief, weight management, and life-stage nutrition. There are new positionings for hormonal balance, skin care, prenatal and menopause supplements.
The supplement delivery formats include capsules (10%) , powder (17%), gummies (25%), softgel (13%), liquid (12%), tablets (7%), effervescent (4%), chewables (2%) and veg capsules (2%).
Gummy, lozenges, shots are not only the leading format but also the most preferred ones among Gen Z and Millennials.
References:
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Source: Only 12 percent of American adults are metabolically healthy, study finds
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Trends and Disparities in Cardiometabolic Health Among U.S. Adults, 1999-2018: Meghan O’Hearn, MS Brianna N. Lauren, MS John B. Wong, MD David D. Kim, PhD Dariush Mozaffarian, MD, DrPH
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Xiaopeng Liang, Benjamin Or, Man F Tsoi, Ching L Cheung, Bernard M Y Cheung, Prevalence of metabolic syndrome in the United States National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011–18, Postgraduate Medical Journal, Volume 99, Issue 1175, September 2023, Pages 985–992. Source https://doi.org/10.1093/postmj/qgad008
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Source: The State of Mental Health in America 2025
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Source: Dietary Supplement Use Among Adults: United States, 2017–2018
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Source: Top 5 Supplement Trends for 2025
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Source: More Americans are using technology to monitor their health, including mobile apps and AI
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Reider CA, Chung RY, Devarshi PP, Grant RW, Hazels Mitmesser S. Inadequacy of Immune Health Nutrients: Intakes in US Adults, the 2005-2016 NHANES. Nutrients. 2020 Jun 10;12(6):1735. doi: 10.3390/nu12061735. PMID: 32531972; PMCID: PMC7352522.
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Starck, C.S.; Cassettari, T.; Beckett, E.; Duve, E.; Fayet-Moore, F. Identification of Priority Nutrients in the US: Targeting Malnutrition to Address Diet-Related Disease Across the Lifespan. Nutrients 2025, 17, 1957. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17121957
