40 per cent of NHS costs go on treating preventable conditions – 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. Despite this, new research by Uniquely Health 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 in that time. 70% of Brits haven’t had a general health check and 73% have not monitored their heart rate in that time The survey found that not even half (49%) of UK adults believe they would be classed as ‘healthy’ by a doctor or health/wellness expert.

Findings indicate 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, and 9 in 10 (90%) have not tried a holistic approach, combining a healthy diet with an exercise routine, in the past four years. 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.

The neglect of personal health and wellbeing could mean generally lower quality of life and that something preventable goes unmanaged, leading to the need for greater investment of time and money in health in the future.