Healthy spending?
It takes a lot to get muscles like these
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Tuesday, 03, Oct 2006 12:01
Health-conscious Brits are reaching deep into their wallets to maintain a healthy lifestyle, a new survey shows.
Research published today by financial services company Prudential reveals that the average UK adult pays £1,490 a year keeping themselves in trim, the equivalent to £28.66 a week.
Most of this total £1.4 billion spending spree is thrown into gym membership, with London residents paying an average of £230 more over the course of a whole year for their gyms than elsewhere in the country.
But healthy foods also make up a sizeable amount of the health budget. Females in particular are twice as likely as men to stock up on organic products and other healthy foods, like probiotic yoghurts or pomegranate juice.
"Although the average Brit spends nearly £1,500 on getting fit, contrary to most people's perceptions living healthily needn't make a huge dent in your wallet," PruHealth partnerships director Nick Read pointed out.
"While there's no doubt some methods of improving your health are expensive, there are also plenty of things people can do cheaply to improve their diet and fitness levels."
Among the changes to daily life which can help improve an individual's healthiness are simple adjustments like getting off the bus a stop earlier or running up the stairs instead of taking the lift.
Mr Read's advice reflects that issued by the Department of Health (DoH), which earlier this year launched its "small change, big difference" campaign.