COVID sparks “let’s get healthy” lifestyle trend in the UK

New research has found that eight in 10 adults in the North West have made a decision to make changes to their lifestyle in 2021, with nearly seven in 10 saying they are motivated to make healthier lifestyle changes due to coronavirus.

Compared to last year, almost half of people feel more motivated to make changes to their life in January. Eating more healthily (39 per cent), losing weight (38 per cent) and exercising more (42 per cent) were at the top of the list of changes.

Evidence shows that being obese significantly increases your chance of being admitted to intensive care with COVID-19 compared to those with a healthy BMI.

To support adults in the North West make these changes, Public Health England has launched its latest Better Health new year campaign to encourage residents to work towards a healthier lifestyle, whether it’s losing weight by getting active and eating better, looking after their mental wellbeing, or quitting smoking. The campaign offers support through a variety of tools and apps, including the updated NHS 12 Week Weight Loss app. This comes as currently 28 per cent of adults in England are living with obesity and 36 per cent are overweight.

The survey revealed that 2020 and the impact of the pandemic saw behaviours in the North West change, including:1

•A third of people reported snacking on unhealthy food and drinks at least once a day (23 per cent) – up from 19 per cent this time last year.

•A third said they were exercising less in the latter half of the year

•12 per cent claimed that their alcohol intake has increased since the start of the second national lockdown.1

Dr Rebecca Wagstaff, Public Health England’s deputy director of health and wellbeing in the North West, said: “2020 has been a difficult year for everyone and the data supports this.

“Many have found comfort in unhealthy habits and although that’s completely understandable, these habits make us more susceptible to illness associated with COVID-19 and poor general health too.

”It’s encouraging to hear so many people are motivated to make positive changes to their lifestyle in 2021 and I urge as many people as possible to do the same. It’s never been more important to look after yourself.”

The Better Health campaign provides a wide range of free NHS tools and advice to support healthier habits, including suggestions on how to increase physical activity, make healthier food choices, lose weight, improve mental health and quit smoking.

Source: Warrington Worldwide

COVID healthy lifestyle trend