PRESS RELEASE – 29th February 2024
EXPERTS URGE BRITS TO ‘TAKE THE LEAP’ FOR THEIR HEALTH AS LESS THAN HALF (49%) OF THE NATION IS CONFIDENT THEY WOULD BE CLASSED AS HEALTHY BY A DOCTOR OR WELLNESS EXPERT
- New research by Uniquely Health, personalised health and wellbeing service, reveals less than half (49%) of the nation is confident they would be classed as healthy by a doctor or wellness expert [1]
- NHS reports 63.5% of the nation are obese, however this new research reveals 45% of Brits have not weighed themselves in four years
- 70% of adults have failed to have a general health check in the last four years, and 73% have not monitored their heart rate in that time
- This comes as estimates indicate that 40 per cent of NHS costs go on treating preventable conditions [2]
Today Uniquely Health – a new personalised health and wellbeing service – is urging people to make the most of the extra day this leap year – and use the additional 24 hours to kickstart health goals.
This call to action comes as new research by Uniquely Health shows that less than half (49%) of the nation is confident they would be classed as ‘healthy’ by a doctor or wellness expert.
Uniquely Health’s research indicates that British people may be struggling to take control of their health, due to the challenges that modern life presents – from sedentary lifestyles, longer working hours, family pressures and poor food options available to so many people. Over a fifth (22%) of respondents said that finding time is a key barrier to making changes to their health, with 31% of respondents saying lack of motivation prevented them from making positive changes to their health and wellbeing. 76% of adults prioritise other aspects of their life, with Gen X most likely to prioritise family (57%) and millennials most likely to prioritise career (25%), over their health.
This comes as estimates indicate that 40 per cent of NHS costs go on treating preventable conditions [3] – such as diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol; the burden of just one preventable disease – cardiovascular disease – costs society over £18 billion each year. Further, 63.5% of the nation is now classified as overweight or obese, according to the NHS [4].
Despite this, the research shows that nearly half (45%) of people have not weighed themselves since the last leap year and over three quarters (79%) haven’t measured their waist circumference. 70% of Brits haven’t had a general health check and 73% have not monitored their heart rate in that time.
Uniquely Health is a new service which develops health plans for people based on personalised advice from a GP, dietitian and exercise scientist. Taking a holistic approach to an individual’s health helps people stay healthier for longer, while removing the burden of co-ordinating the different skillsets needed for all around good health.
Dr Jim Robinson, Uniquely Health and NHS General Practitioner, comments: “We know that taking control of your health is not easy nowadays. Our research shows that there are significant challenges that people face trying to make healthy decisions. As a GP, I see first-hand the importance of prevention rather than cure, which is key to our health and is also vital in relieving the pressures on the NHS. That’s why at Uniquely Health we do the hard work for you, by developing a solution which helps people take control of their health more easily, with a clear plan to follow which we guide people through. Our holistic approach – which looks at nutrition, exercise and general health together – means we can devise optimal plans to suit individuals who want to make long-term, sustainable changes to their health for a better future”.
Anna Kallianteri, Uniquely Health Dietitian, said: “Exercise and diet come together to improve your health, so it makes sense to approach these holistically. I was concerned that our research found 9 in 10 (90%) of people we asked haven’t tried a holistic approach, combining a healthy with an exercise routine in the past four years. That is where Uniquely Health comes in, we look at your health as a whole and guide you towards making the best changes for your wellbeing.”
Sabine Hoadley, Exercise Scientist at Uniquely Health, comments: “When we’re busy or experiencing burnout, most of us might find that the last thing we want to turn to is exercise. However, exercise has a wide range of positive effects on mental and physical health and is known to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and obesity [5]. Each person, their body and their lifestyle respond to food and movement so differently, so at Uniquely Health, we find out what plan will work best for you as an individual.”
Uniquely Health is a team of best-in-class health and wellbeing experts, offering a solution for those who need flexibility, guidance and accountability to reach their health and wellbeing goals. The company’s innovative approach – which leverages wearable technology – aims to empower people to make positive changes, by offering a solution and support to help people make safe and sustainable changes to their health.
With Leap Year Day providing an extra 24 hours in busy schedules, Uniquely Health is offering a complimentary consultation call with its experts, to kickstart their personal health journeys.
References
[1] Opinion Matters Research conducted on 2,000 adults (aged 16+) in the UK (02.02.2024-05.02.2024)
[2] https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/health-and-social-care-secretary-speech-on-health-reform
[3] https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/health-and-social-care-secretary-speech-on-health-reform
[4] https://www.ethnicity-facts-figures.service.gov.uk/health/diet-and-exercise/overweight-adults/latest/
[5] Cardiovascular disease: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/exercise-and-the-heart ;
Diabetes: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2992225/ ;
