PruHealth designates 4th May as Death of the Diet Day
Released
on: May 14, 2009, 4:55 am
Author: PruHealth
Industry: Financial
Research
conducted by PruHealth, the private health insurance company that
rewards policyholders for being healthy, found that people expected
their January health kicks to last for, on average, 123 days.
This therefore means that Monday 4 May was the day most people
fell off the health wagon.
Whether
it's down to stronger willpower, more pressure to have celebrity
bodies, or simply cutting back on calorific treats in the credit
crunch, the average Brit's New Year health kick has lasted 45
days longer this year than in 2008, with dieters sticking to their
diet and fitness regimes for over four months in 2009.*
Of
those still sticking to their diets, the vast majority of dieters
(55%)** plan to keep up their new healthy
lifestyle forever, suggesting that 'quick-fix' fad diets such
as Beyonce's maple syrup diet are well and truly out of fashion.
Nearly
two-thirds of Brits (61%) planned to embark on a new diet or fitness
regime at the start of the year. PruHealth, private
medical insurance company, also found that nearly half (48%)
of these dieters saw it as an ongoing, permanent lifestyle change
rather than an attempt to quickly lose those extra pounds.
However,
by the end of April, 30% of dieters had already abandoned their
diets, with over a quarter (26%) of people caving in after less
than a month on the salads and gym classes.
When
it comes to sticking to resolutions, resisting the lure of sugary
snacks is the biggest challenge for sweet-toothed dieters, with
22% rating this as the hardest hurdle to overcome. A further 10%
admitted giving up alcohol was their biggest health regime challenge.
Katie
Roswell, Marketing Director, PruHealth, said: "The nation
appears to be taking a step in the right direction and maintaining
a healthy lifestyle on an ongoing basis, rather than opting for
more dangerous crash diet or exercise plans. The key is finding
a routine that incorporates a nutritionally balanced diet and
regular exercise into your lifestyle, and not completely denying
yourself the occasional treat for doing well, as this can help
keep up the motivation."
Worryingly,
for 21% of dieters this year it took the shock of a health scare
to inspire them to take action and embark on a new, healthier
lifestyle. But messages about the health of the nation appear
to be hitting home, as the majority of dieters (54%) simply wanted
to follow a healthier lifestyle.
Please note:
The information contained in Prudential UK's press releases is
intended solely for journalists and should not be used by consumers
to make financial decisions. Full consumer product information
can be found at www.pruhealth.co.uk.
Notes to editors
Results have been weighted to nationally representative criteria.
* Opinium Research online poll of 2,233 British adults carried
out 23rd - 30th December 2008.
** Opinium Research online poll of 2,200 British adults carried
out 17th - 20th April 2009.
About
PruHealth
PruHealth health insurance
was launched in October 2004 as a joint venture between Prudential
and Discovery Holdings from South Africa. Since launch, PruHealth
has grown quickly. It now covers over 190,000 lives and in a sample
of its individual customers, one third said they had changed their
behaviour for the better because of its Vitality reward scheme
which encourages policyholders to look after their health
Contact Details: Izabella Siemicka
PR Manager
Prudential UK Insurance Operations
3 Sheldon Square
London
W2 6PR
020 7121 8513
http://www.pruhealth.co.uk/
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