Just one month after pledging to get firmer, fitter and healthier, half of Britain’s New Year’s resolution makers are still in the same shape – and £335 million worse off.
Just one month after pledging to get firmer, fitter and healthier, half of Britain’s New Year’s resolution makers are still in the same shape – and Ł335 million worse off.
Around a third of all adults made health-related resolutions on January 1, spending millions on gym memberships, sports equipment, slimming classes and self-help aids.
But half of them have already quit. And their collective ‘willpower deficit’ cost them an estimated Ł335 million – nearly Ł50 per person.
That’s the conclusion of a study among 1,000 people published by Norwich Union Healthcare today.
The report reveals that just under 15 million UK adults set themselves a health-related resolution in January and 25 per cent spent up to Ł100 pursuing it.
However, just weeks later, almost half have failed to see their resolution through.
The vast majority of the seven million quitters admit they have only themselves to blame. A quarter had said they would rely on support from family and friends to succeed. However only four per cent blamed lack of support when they did quit.
The top four reasons for failure were:
- Lack of willpower
- Too busy with work and family
- Too expensive
- Lack of support from my family and friends
Those in the East Midlands, Yorkshire and London were most likely to quit because they were too busy. Conversely just 16 per cent of those in South Wales blamed being too busy for their failure. The group that had the most problems with willpower were the Scots.
Dr Doug Wright, clinical development manager at Norwich Union Healthcare, said: “It appears to be a tale of ‘brave new year, same old story’ for the weaker willed among us. Maybe that’s to be expected. What’s startling is the amount we now spend on trying to get healthy.”
Pam Richardson, director of the UK College of Life Coaching, added: “New Year resolutions require some time spent working out what matters to you, and in what order of priority you hold these values. For example, if well-being and weight management is not top of your list, then with the inevitable demands on your time, exercise or healthy eating may ‘drop off the edge of the plate’.
“However, if it’s not a priority then stop beating yourself up thinking what you should be doing. Alternatively, ask yourself ‘what would raise the importance of my well-being in my life right now? When you work in alignment with what matters to you, you choose to take action, this is the primary motivator and is sustainable.”
Despite the widespread failure to keep New Year’s resolutions, the Norwich Union Healthcare study does at least demonstrate widespread interest in health and self- improvement.
This trend prompted Norwich Union Healthcare to launch a web-based health service called Personal Health Manager, which it believes can act as a motivational aid to staying healthy.
A key element of Personal Health Manager is the Health Planner – which is perfect for people wanting a tailored health plan to develop habits for the better or the motivation to stay on track. In fact, the Health Planner helps individuals stay on track with e-mail reminders and detailed goal setting.
The site, located at www.personalhealthmanager.co.uk, offers round-the-clock help, advice and information for Norwich Union Healthcare customers and their families. Anyone else can use it for a limited trial period+.
The service can reinforce personal health goals by delivering a wealth of information and advice. Along with the Health Planner, other areas include:
- Symptom Assessment - users can enter their own symptoms and answer questions to determine a range of possible conditions
- Medical Encyclopedia - over 1,000 pages of illustrated medical information from the latest edition of the Complete Family Health Guide published by Dorling Kindersley
- 24-Hour GP Helpline - this service already exists for Norwich Union Healthcare policyholders. Personal Health Manager extends the service by giving GPs access to data saved by users on the site.
Access to Personal Health Manager: Norwich Union Healthcare has set up a limited free trial for your readers+. Simply call 0800 142 142* quoting reference 2849831c3. The trial period for your readers will expire on 31 March 2003+ (see Notes to Editors for journalist access)
Press contacts:
Jo Misson or Charlotte Ruddlesdin at QBO on 020 7379 0304
Weekend contact: Jo Misson on 07887 77 77 31
Notes to editors:
- Journalists wanting a limited free trial for Personal Health Manager, please visit www.personalhealthmanager.co.uk and use the access code: b6eecba34. This code will allow you to trial Personal Health Manager from now until 28 February+. DO NOT PUBLISH THIS ACCESS CODE – IT IS FOR JOURNALIST USE ONLY.
- Norwich Union Healthcare commissioned Taylor Nelson Sofres to interview 1,000 households during December 2002 and January 2003.
- +The GP Helpline is not available as part of the trial. Personal Health Manager is strictly available for use in, and by residents of the UK, Isle of Man and Channel Islands only.
- *For security and administration, calls to and from Norwich Union may be monitored and/or recorded.
- Norwich Union Healthcare is the healthcare arm of Norwich Union and provides a range of private medical insurance and income protection products to around 750,000 customers. It is one of the largest providers of income protection and private medical insurance in the UK.
- Norwich Union is the UK’s largest insurer offering a comprehensive range of long-term savings and general insurance products.
- Norwich Union Healthcare is a member of the General Insurance Standards Council.
- Norwich Union’s news releases are available on the Aviva plc website at www.aviva.com
- A selection of images is available from the Norwich Union Newscast site at www.newscast.co.uk
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