The study of 3,000 people shows that folk fork out in the region of £2,525 on average every year on health care, exercise and fruit and veg, which equates to £152,747over the average adult lifetime of 60.5 years.
And despite spending thousands of pounds in a bid to keep fit and well, 85 per cent of people reckon they could do with being a bit healthier.
Respondents to the survey, conducted for health cash plan provider, Engage Mutual Assurance estimate they spend an average of more than £1,000 a year on vegetables and a similar amount on fruit, a combined £134,000 across the average British adult lifetime of 60.5 years.
One third spend on gym and sports club memberships, creating an average spend across all survey respondents of approximately £65 a year. Home exercise equipment, such as rowing machines and exercise bikes, account for an annual average spend of just £22.
And health services such as dental care, eye care and complementary therapies also bump up the cost of staying healthy.
The average spend is £63.70 on dental care every year, £68 at the opticians, and £24.26 on complementary therapies from physiotherapists, osteopaths and chiropractors.
Private healthcare, including health cash plans and private medical insurance, accounts for an annual average spend of around £252.
Medicines such as paracetamol and cold and flu treatments also add to the bill, with Brits annually spending about £34 on average.
Karl Elliott, Marketing Director at Engage Mutual said:
“We rarely add up the costs of keeping ourselves healthy, and £168,000 over the course of a lifetime is no insignificant amount. But if we think being healthy is expensive, the alternative can prove even more costly.
“Budgeting to help meet regular and unexpected health costs is one way of making sure that even when money is tight, our general health isn’t sacrificed.”
The survey reveals seven in 10 people are worried about maintaining good health and 57 per cent are concerned about the costs.
But despite splashing out on their health, 53 per cent admit they can’t resist eating junk food on a regular basis.
Drinking too much alcohol is the second biggest vice for 46 per cent of folk, whilst 43 per cent acknowledge they don’t exercise enough.
Over-eating and smoking are also causes of concern for more than one in five people.
Karl Elliott continues:
“Raising awareness of how best to ensure a healthy life is a long term exercise. But money spent on helping to stay healthy should be seen as an investment, rather than just a cost.”
BREAKDOWN OF RESULTS
Average yearly spend
| Dental care |
£63.70 |
| Optician |
£68.00 |
| Therapies |
£24.26 |
| Vitamins/supplements |
£29.31 |
| Gym membership |
£65.89 |
| Private health insurance |
£252.00 |
| Medicines |
£34.16 |
| Vegetables |
£1118.00 |
| Fruit |
£1099.00 |
| Exercise equipment |
£22.43 |
| TOTAL
|
£2776.75 |
x average adult lifetime of 60.5 years of age (age 18 to 78.5)
= £167,993
ENDS
Survey conducted by OnePoll.com, during January 2010. Responses based on ‘nearest to’ answers.
NOTES TO EDITORS
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If using this article on a website, please link to www.engagemutual.com, using the following hyperlink text: <a href=http://www.engagemutual.com><b>engage</b>Mutual Assurance – meeting the changing needs of today’s modern families</a>
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engage Mutual Assurance is a trading name of Homeowners Friendly Society Ltd (HFSL), Registered and incorporated under the Friendly Societies Act 1992, Registered number 964F and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, engage Mutual Funds Limited (eMFL) and engage Mutual Insurance Ltd (eMIL). Both HFSL and eMFL are authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA). HFSL’s Register number is 110072, eMFL’s Register number is 181487. eMIL is authorised to conduct general insurance business by the Financial Services Commission Gibraltar and is regulated by the Financial Services Authority for the conduct of UK business. eMIL’s FSA Register No is 485680. You can check this on the FSA’s Register by visiting the FSA website www.fsa.gov.uk or by contacting the FSA on 0845 606 1234.
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engage is one of the larger UK mutuals providing simple, value for money savings, protection and investment products. It currently helps over 440,000 customers of all ages to protect, preserve or enhance their welfare, with some of the most straightforward products on the market. Engage prides itself on being a family-oriented, modern mutual, providing products that help enable households of all kinds to plan their finances to help meet their future needs. More information on engage Mutual is available at www.engagemutual.com
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engage supports mutuality, friendly societies and the regional financial services industry through links with the Association of Mutual Insurers, the Association of Friendly Societies, Mutuo and Leeds Financial Services Initiative.
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engage Mutual Funds Limited (EMFL) is a provider of the Child Trust Fund direct and in partnership with organisations including Yorkshire Building Society and Scarborough Building Society.
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engage Mutual has been the title sponsor of the Rugby Super League since 2005 and has extended its agreement to 2010.
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engage Mutual announced its entry into the health cash plan market in July 2008 following an agreement of partnership with Wakefield & District Hospital’s Contributory Scheme (WDHCS). Further to this, 30,000 health cash plan customers transferred from Premier Health Benefits (part of WDHCS) to engage Mutual Insurance Ltd.
