Pressures of work; lack of exercise; and eating junk food are the chief culprits, according to women. They time their partner’s health decline as just over five years into their relationship, on average.
The figures emerged in a study of 3,000 women by Engage Mutual and revealed that 37 per cent of them worry that their other half is overweight.
While 31 per cent of women are concerned their partner doesn’t do enough exercise, the most frequent factor highlighted in relation to a partner’s unhealthy lifestyle is work.
Nearly a third of women who expressed their concerns highlighted very long working hours and stress around work as key factors in their partners’ unhealthy lifestyles. One in ten says that bringing work home has a negative effect on their partner’s health.
A spokesman for Engage Mutual said:
“From exercise to work life balance, the majority of women we surveyed had concerns around a partner’s lifestyle.
“By far and away, work pressures were seen as the biggest issue. Maintaining work life balance is particularly challenging in the current economic climate where many are concerned about their jobs and prospects and feel under significant additional pressure.”
Other contributors to bad health highlighted by the survey included eating junk food (26 per cent), bad sleeping habits (23 per cent), skipping meals (19 per cent) and drinking too much (19 per cent).
And a fifth of women say their partners have become ‘couch potatoes’.
Refusing to visit a doctor when ill; and ignoring previous or hereditary health problems are also issues women raise in relation to their partners’ unhealthy attitudes.
But despite their concerns, 31 per cent haven’t yet mentioned to their partner that they think they are unhealthy.
Instead 42 per cent of those surveyed say they have made healthy changes to their partner’s lifestyle without them realising it.
Six in 10 of these women started buying low fat healthy foods, and 64 per cent no longer buy unhealthy snacks and treats for the house.
Just under a fifth pack less lunch for their partner when he goes to work, and 15 per cent now count the calories and fat in all of his meals.
Eight per cent have even booked their partner into sporting activities such as squash, running or tennis.
While 20 per cent believe an unhealthy approach to life has meant their partner is less attractive, 36 per cent believe it directly affects the family’s lifestyle.
Indeed, of these women, 40 per cent say lack of exercise, poor diet and frequently feeling under the weather means their husband rarely has enough energy to run round with the children.
Just over half of wives say their partner doesn’t spend enough quality time with the family, and 64 per cent blame his short temper for a bad atmosphere in the house.
A majority of women (93 per cent) say they would prefer a partner who earned an average wage but spent time looking after their health, over a high earner whose health suffered.
The Engage Mutual spokesman continues:
“It is significant that, despite the hard times that many are experiencing and worrying about, 93 per cent of women we surveyed prioritise the health of their partner above wealth.
“With more than a third identifying the impact of an unhealthy partner on the family, and a similar number highlighting work as a major factor in their partner’s unhealthy lifestyle, the message seems to be, ‘try and strike a balance’.”
| top 10 concerns about partner's health |
| feels very stressed and under pressure in his job |
| works very long hours |
| rarely exercises |
| eats junk food |
| bad sleeping habits |
| refuses to visit the doctor when ill |
| has become a couch potato |
|
skips meals because he is too busy
|
| drinks too much alcohol |
| has a very short temper |
- ENDS -
For further information please contact:
Kathryn McLaughlin
Engage Mutual
Tel: 01423 855245/07794 283788
NOTES TO EDITORS
1. 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), registered number 3224780, Engage Mutual Services Limited (EMSL), registered number 3088162, Engage Mutual Administration Limted (EMAL), registered number 4301736 and Engage Health Holdings Limited (EHHL), registered numbers 7112411, all of Hornbeam Park Avenue, Harrogate HG2 8XE and Engage Mutual Insurance Limited (EMIL), registered in Gibraltar number 100605 of Montagu Pavilion, 8-10 Queensway, Gibraltar. EMA is also a trading name of Engage Mutual Health (EMH), registered number 515058 of 14 St Cuthbert’s Street, Bedford, Bedfordshire MK40 3JU, a wholly owned subsidiary company of EHH.
2. HFSL, EMFL and EMH are authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA). HFSL’s Register number is 110072, EMFL’s FSA Register number is 181487 and EMH’s FSA Register number is 202311. EMIL is authorise to conduct general insurance business by the Gibraltar Financial Services Commission (GFSC) and is regulated by the FSA for the conduct of UK business. EMIL’s FSA Register number is 485680. You can check this on the FSA’s Register by visiting the FSA’s website www.fsa.gov.uk/register/firmSearch Form.do, or by contacting the FSA on 0845 6061234. Engage Mutual investment Funcs ICVC is an investment company with variable capital, Registered in England Number IC00044. EMSL is an appointed representative of EMIL. EMAL, EMSL and EHHL are non-regulated wholly owned subsidiaries of HFSL.
3. Engage Mutual is one of the larger UK mutuals providing simple, value for money savings, protection and investment products. It currently helps over 469,000 customers of all ages to protect, preserve or enhance their welfare, with some of the most straightforward products on the market. Engage Mutual 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
4. Engage Mutual supports mutuality through links with the Association of Financial Mutuals and Mutuo.
5. Engage Mutual Funds Limited (EMFL) is a provider of the Child Trust Fund direct and in partnership with organisations including Yorkshire Building Society.
6. Engage Mutual has been the title sponsor of the Rugby Super League since 2005 and has extended its agreement to 2011.
7. 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 Limited.
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