Half of UK adults have 'unhealthy' relationship with food

Youngest Brits revealed to be most affected, with only four in ten under-25s happy with their eating habits

Press Release
31 January 2021

Almost half of adults in the UK could have an unhealthy relationship with food, with the youngest generations most unhappy with their eating habits, according to new research from not-for-profit healthcare provider, Benenden Health.

Data shows that only 56% of adults think that their relationship with food is a healthy one, with men more likely to believe (64%) this than women (49%), whilst only 43% of 18-24 year olds are happy with their eating habits.

The research of 1,000 adults across the UK has highlighted just how early on in life individuals begin to question and challenge their relationship with food and comes at a time when the nation is already facing a mental health crisis, with almost half of Brits (42%) believing their mental wellbeing to be worse as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The average age for UK adults to first consider losing weight was revealed to be 30, with a quarter of respondents (26%) saying that they were 16-25 when they first considered it, whilst only a fifth of Brits (22%) have never considered the prospect.

And whilst more than three quarters of UK adults (77%) have tried to lose weight with diets, only a fifth (21%) said that losing weight actually made them feel happier.

Following its findings, as we enter the new year, Benenden Health is encouraging individuals to consider their approach to a healthy lifestyle and be wary of unnecessary and unhelpful pressures and expectations when it comes to diet and body image.

Matron at Benenden Health, Cheryl Lythgoe, said: “It is no great surprise to find that so many individuals in the UK have an unhealthy relationship with food. From a young age – especially for more recent generations - we are surrounded by conversations about body image, diets and comparisons with others, which can challenge our perception of what is normal or desirable.

“Whether you are trying to lose weight or not, the best way to approach your diet is simply to ensure you are getting a good balance of food groups, vitamins and minerals and a good tip is to aim for a rainbow of colours on your plate.

“There is nothing wrong with losing weight if it is necessary for health reasons but dedicated diets and slimming programmes are often unsustainable and ultimately unnecessary in improving our health, not to mention the impact they can have on our wallets.

“The challenge and burden of constantly assessing our eating habits can also have a significant impact on our mental wellbeing with calorie counting often making us feel worse. Instead, remove these targets and look at making some simple lifestyle changes – whilst enjoying treats in moderation - enabling you to maintain a healthy weight and promote positive wellbeing.”

Benenden Health is a not-for-profit organisation offering high quality, private healthcare at the same affordable cost for everyone. This includes round the clock care such as 24/7 GP and Mental Health helplines, plus speedy access to services such as physiotherapy and medical treatment.

For more information about Benenden Health and to discover advice on maintaining a healthy lifestyle, go to https://www.benenden.co.uk/be-healthy/category-page/#!nutrit....


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Note to Editors

Survey carried out on 1,007 adults in the UK by Censuswide in October 2021.

Benenden Health is a not-for-profit organisation, founded in 1905 with the purpose of people joining together to help pay for medical care. It is one of the UK’s longest serving and most respected mutual healthcare societies, offering an affordable alternative to health insurance to more than 820,000 members.

Many UK businesses have also chosen to offer Benenden Health membership as part of their employee benefits package.

Further data from the survey is available on request.