From around the globe: Majority of Brits view themselves as healthy, says new report

Fifty per cent of Britons think they are healthy, but only a small percentage follow a strict health regime, according to new research. A report by market analyst Mintel found that 50 per cent of Brits view themselves as either “somewhat” or “very” healthy and only 15 per cent think they are “somewhat” or “very” unhealthy.

However, the research also reveals that just six per cent say they are strict about being as healthy as possible. Nearly half, 46 per cent, of respondents stated that they led a healthy lifestyle “most of the time”. A third, 33 per cent, said they go through phases of being healthy, before slipping into bad habits again, while 14 per cent stated that they “don’t put much effort or thought into staying healthy”. Women are more likely than men to make an effort to be healthy, with only 10 per cent of women saying they “don’t put much effort or thought” into staying healthy, compared to 19 per cent of men. Appearance was the top reason for women to try to be healthier, with 54 per cent naming this as the most likely motivator.

The top reason for men to try to be healthier was “feeling generally unfit”. However, the genders are in agreement on the best ways to remain healthy. Across both groups, 64 per cent said exercising regularly was most important for staying healthy. 61 per cent said it was not smoking or limiting the amount you smoke, and 54 per cent said it was eating at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day. However, respondents did not necessarily act on these opinions, with 47 per cent actually getting regular exercise, 52 per cent not smoking or limiting how much they smoke, and 43 per cent eating at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day. Ina Mitskavets, senior consumer and lifestyles analyst at Mintel, said: “Even though people know what they need to do to stay healthy, many struggle to achieve their healthy goals, owing to a lack of time and/or money. “The biggest deficit is in the amount of exercise people think they should be doing and what they actually do. To address people’s lack of time, fitness brands and operators could focus on the benefits of intense, short bursts of exercise that can more easily fit into busy routines.”