New research has revealed that only around fifty percent of the UK’s adult population feel healthy. The study was conducted by a not for profit healthcare provider called Benenden Health and primarily shows that fewer than a fifth of adults, that’s sixteen percent love exercising. This means that they have a lack of physical activity which leaves only around half the nation who would rate their health as excellent or good with fewer than half of those surveyed happy with their body image.
The findings of the survey could mean that there may be an increase in mental health issues and eating disorders as if there is a large number of people that are unhappy with their body image, they are more than likely going to do what ever they can to lose weight. This may include the rise in the number of people who develop eating disorders.
Recent research conducted by the NHS Information Centre has shown that there are around 6.4% of adults showing signs of having an eating disorder. The data was collected by the Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey, 2007 and illustrates evidence as to the state of health of the adult population.
Just over half of those who were surveyed stated that they were prioritising their health over other issues. Medical experts have recommended that if people want to live a long and healthy life, they should be encouraged to do more exercise and improve their diet. This is the only way that they may be able to halt or even reverse any health conditions that they may have and in the end, this will help them be able to spend more time with their loved ones who they can watch grow up.
There were around two thousand participants in the survey so the researchers would be able to create a relatively accurate image of the state of play in the country to see what can be improved and where. It found that around a quarter of the nation don’t know the right kind of exercise they should be doing for their body type. This meant that individuals were encouraged to find the right kind of activity for themselves and this can sometimes take time through trial and error. The rate at which somebody improves their health should not be measured by the number of marathons they can run or whether they can take part in endurance swimming.
Having spoken in the campaign on physical health, television presenter Judi Love, said: “Exercise can be a scary word and make us think about long, horrible runs or demanding team sports, but in reality, exercise can be as simple as a walk to the shops, a short yoga class or dancing with friends.
“I’ve tried all different types of exercise – and disliked lots of them – but since finding the right activities for me, I actually enjoy it! Strictly Come Dancing was the start of me pushing myself out of my comfort zone when it came to exercise , I found dancing to be a great way to exercise and that has since developed into my love for boxing. Since I found exercise that worked for me, both my physical health and mental well-being have improved hugely, so why not try something new in 2023 and celebrate the small steps you take – literally and metaphorically!”
Cheryl Lythgoe, Matron at Benenden Health, added: “Exercise doesn’t need to be daunting, and it is crucial that we aren’t comparing ourselves to others or have unrealistic expectations – especially at the start of a journey to become healthier.
“Our research has found that only a fifth of the nation can run 5k, dance all night or swim a mile, so don’t judge your success by metrics such as these. Set yourself little challenges, take things one step at a time and your resolutions can be achieved, with great benefits to both your physical and mental health.”
