The nation’s concerns about health, wellbeing and food in run-up to Christmas have been revealed in a new poll from the British Nutrition Foundation (BNF).
The research, conducted by YouGov on behalf of the BNF, found that one in six people across Britain are worried about not being able to find all the food they need this Christmas, and 18 per cent say they are anxious about getting online deliveries.
When asked about diet and fitness concerns, almost half (46 per cent) of 18-34-year olds say they are worried about eating too many unhealthy snacks and 23 per cent of the same age group are concerned about eating too many takeaways.
Becoming more active, losing weight and eating more healthily overall are what the majority of people will be prioritising in the New Year when it comes to health and wellbeing (49 per cent, 45 per cent and 38 per cent respectively), and 21 per cent of those aged 18-34 say that eating more sustainably is a priority in the New Year, compared to 16 per cent of respondents overall. Furthermore, 31 per cent of Brits surveyed cited eating more fruit and vegetables as a priority for the New Year, along with 26 per cent who cited eating foods to keep their immune system healthy.
Sara Stanner, the BNF’s Science Director, commented: “The Covid-19 pandemic has had a huge impact on many aspects of our lives, especially finances, health and wellbeing and many people cited concerns about their weight, diet and activity over the Christmas period. However, it’s heartening to see many positive priorities for the New Year, with getting more active coming out on top. Different aspects of healthy eating are also high on people’s list of priorities, including eating well to support immunity.”
She added: “We’ve seen a lot of misleading information about nutrition and immunity this year – there’s no magic bullet in the diet that can prevent us from getting Covid-19. But there are many nutrients that support our immune system to work normally and a healthy diet, alongside vitamin D supplements in the winter months, can provide us with all the vitamins and minerals we need for good health.”
