Many Wait For Diagnosis Of A Serious Illness Before Trying To Improve Their Health
Published: 4 March 2011
By MoneyHighStreet Staff Leave a Comment
Updated: 4 March 2011
Whilst 10% of Brits worry about their health ‘all the time’, it takes the diagnosis of a serious illness to encourage 80% of us to try to improve our health.
According to new calculations by PruHealth, 39 is the age Brits really start to worry about their health.
All the worry though doesn’t result in action for many. Some put this inaction down to laziness and for others its down to time pressures. A love of unhealthy foods is another excuse.
Respondents in the survey who were over 25 were asked what advice they would give their younger selves, the top 5 tips were
- Don’t smoke
- Look after your body
- Do more exercise
- Think about the consequences of your actions
- Eating more healthily
Only 10% advise a ‘live for the moment’ approach and tell their younger selves to enjoy the present and not worry about the future.
Dr Katherine Tryon at PruHealth,said: “We need to stop worrying about our health and start doing something to look after ourselves. If approaching the big four-o is the kick-start thirty-somethings need, then that can only be a good thing.
Encouragingly over half the respondents (54 per cent) said that the offer of hard incentives is likely to change their behaviour and help them lead a healthy life. At PruHealth our key focus is to help remove barriers to health living and incentivise healthy activities via our Vitality scheme.”
MoneyHighStreet.com comment: With some famous names into fitness, such as Gwyneth Paltrow (38) and David Walliams (39), who are achieving their health goals, perhaps its time for those hurtling towards the big 40 (and others of course) to step up to the plate and take action – whether that be visiting the gym or swimming pool or engaging in something like power walking, plus of course giving attention to a healthy diet.
To provide different kinds of protection you can also consider a healthcare plan, such as the new Personal Healthcare plan from PruHealth or insurance type cover, such as critical illness or a life insurance policy.
