85% of GPs rate their patients’ current eating habits as unhealthy, according to a new report out today.
85% of GPs rate their patients’ current eating habits as unhealthy, according to a new report out today.
And it’s not just over eating, ignorance and lack of exercise contributing to Britons’ poor diets. Norwich Union Healthcare’s ‘Nutritional Health’ report found that more than eight in 10 (85%) GPs are pointing the finger of blame at fad diets popularised by celebrities, claiming they put the nation’s health at risk by misleading the public about what’s healthy and what’s not.
Dr Ann Robinson, GP, comments: "Celebrities are not nutritionists. Many are actually under weight and under-nourished. Celebrities, who have a vested interest in looking today’s version of ‘perfect’, are often taken in themselves by the latest diet crazes and seem to reinvent their eating regimes as often and as easily as they reinvent their own image. While such extremes might be ok for those whose livelihoods depend on it, it doesn’t make for a sensible or sustainable healthy living plan for the rest of us.
"Healthy eating is not about drastically reducing your calorie intake in order to lose weight but is about eating a variety of the right kinds of foods in the right amounts."
Norwich Union Healthcare’s report also found that although 80% of GPs think programmes such as ‘You Are What You Eat’ and Jamie Oliver’s ‘School Dinners’ have done a good job highlighting the dangers of a poor diet, there is still a big job to do to reverse the harm done over the last two decades as two thirds believe the nation’s health has deteriorated in the past twenty years.
As well as celebrity diets, GPs blame the general amount of information available for adding to the public’s confusion with more than nine in 10(92%) of them saying so.
And despite the fact that nearly eight in 10 Britons (79%) agree ‘you are what you eat’, 51% of those questioned admit they are unsure about what they should and shouldn’t be eating.
Recent news topics have stated for example:
- Salad is a healthy option for many Brits but recent findings suggested that bagged salad available in supermarkets could have been washed in chlorine
- A daily glass of red wine can promote good health but at the same time alcohol has negative overall effects
- Red meat is a rich source of iron and protein but recent reports have shown that eating more than two helpings a day can increase the risk of bowel cancer
Dr Doug Wright from Norwich Union Healthcare said: "It is clear that Britons are confused by the conflicting information they receive about their food and diet on a daily basis. Three quarters of the GPs we spoke to thought their patients would benefit from seeking guidance about their diet from a nutritionist or dietician, so if you’re unsure about what you should and shouldn’t be eating why not consult a professional?"
Food intolerances can present themselves in many different ways. The signs and symptoms can range from a runny nose to hives, breathing difficulties or even a life threatening reaction called anaphylaxis.
Everybody has a different way of absorbing and digesting food and there could be specific foods that have a negative effect on you. Norwich Union Healthcare has put together a list of some common reactions to food and suggestions of what may be behind them:
- Bloating – could be a result of gas-producing foods e.g. broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, pulses, dried fruits or beans
- Indigestion – you could be eating too many acidic foods such as tomatoes, citrus fruits, alcohol or spices
- Constipation – could be a lack of fluids and fibre. Opt for wholemeal, granary and soft grain varieties of bread, jacket potatoes, wholegrain breakfast cereals (Weetabix, Branflakes, unsweetened muesli, Shreddies) wholemeal pasta, brown rice, beans, lentils, peas, fresh and dried fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds
- Diarrhoea – you’re probably eating too much fibre, spicy foods or fruit. Excessive alcohol is another common contributor to loose bowels
- Lethargy – can be down to a poorly balanced diet, excessive carbohydrates, yo-yo dieting or a lack of iron.
-ends-
Media contacts:
Charlotte Ruddlesdin or Jo Misson, QBO Bell Pottinger on 020 7861 2424
Norwich Union Press Office contacts:
Lorna Wiltshire: 020 7662 1013 or 07800 695 150
James Evans: 01904 452 791 or 07800 699 525
Notes to editors:
- Case studies available on request.
- Norwich Union Healthcare commissioned a representative sample of 1031 GB adults aged 16+ to be interviewed between the 3rd and the 5th June 2005 by TNS. They also commissioned a representative sample of 203 GPs to be interviewed between the 3rd and the 5th June 2005 by TNS Healthcare.
About Norwich Union Healthcare
- Norwich Union Healthcare was founded in 1990 as the healthcare arm of Norwich Union and now provides a range of income protection and private medical insurance products that cover over 750,000 lives. It is one of the largest providers of income protection and private medical insurance in the UK.
- Norwich Union Healthcare is authorised and regulated by the Financial Service Authority and is a member of the Association of British Insurers and the Financial Ombudsman Service.
- Norwich Union’s news releases and a selection of images are available from Aviva’s internet press centre at www.aviva.com/media.
- An ISDN facility is available for studio quality broadcast. Call QBO Bell Pottinger on 020 7861 2424.