Nearly half of UK adults could have an unhealthy relationship with food, with younger generations being most unhappy with their eating habits according to new research carried out by the not-for-profit healthcare provider, Benenden Health.

The research of 1,000 adults across the UK has highlighted just how early on in life individuals begin to question and challenge their relationship with food and comes at a time where nearly half of Brits (42%) believe their mental health to have suffered as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The data revealed that only 56% of adults believe that their relationship with food is a healthy one. Of those surveyed, 64% of men believed their eating habits to be healthy, compared to 49% of women and just 43% of 18- to 24-year-olds being happy with their eating habits.

The average age for UK adults to first consider losing weight was found to be 30, with over a quarter (26%) saying that they were between 16 to 25 years old when they first considered it, and a further fifth of Brits (22%) having never considered the prospect.

Cheryl Lythgoe, Matron at Benenden Health said, “It is no great surprise to find that so many individuals in the UK have an unhealthy relationship with food. From a young age – especially for more recent generations - we are surrounded by conversations about body image, diets and comparisons with others, which can challenge our perception of what is normal or desirable.

“Whether you are trying to lose weight or not, the best way to approach your diet is simply to ensure you are getting a good balance of food groups, vitamins and minerals and a good tip is to aim for a rainbow of colours on your plate.

“There is nothing wrong with losing weight if it is necessary for health reasons but dedicated diets and slimming programmes are often unsustainable and ultimately unnecessary in improving our health, not to mention the impact they can have on our wallets.

“The challenge and burden of constantly assessing our eating habits can also have a significant impact on our mental wellbeing with calorie counting often making us feel worse. Instead, remove these targets and look at making some simple lifestyle changes – whilst enjoying treats in moderation - enabling you to maintain a healthy weight and promote positive wellbeing.”

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Carrie Plummer - Editor & Content Manager