Scots ‘too busy’ to look after wellbeing

Scots prioritising working, watching TV, socialising and gaming instead

• 1 in 3 Scots say they are too busy working to look after their own health and mental wellbeing
• 15% confess they fritter away hours binge-watching soap operas instead of doing things to improve their fitness or manage stress and anxiety levels, while1 in 10 say socialising and watching sport on TV is more important to them than their wellbeing
• Most people in Scotland say they struggle to look after their health and wellbeing, with many blaming a lack of time or confusion over what is actually good for them
• In light of this, dietitian Jennifer Low and Yakult Plus are educating people on the ‘power of small’ and how quick and easy everyday changes can make a big difference to overall health

Nearly 1 in 3 (30%) people in Scotland say they are too busy working to look after their own health and wellbeing.

Meanwhile, 15% confess they fritter away hours binge-watching soap operas instead of doing things to improve their fitness or manage stress and anxiety levels.

1 in 10 people in Scotland say socialising (11%) and watching sport on TV (11%) is more important to them than looking after their wellbeing, while more than 1 in 20 (6%) people say they are too busy gaming to look after their health. 

The new research by Yakult Plus reveals that Scots struggle to look after their health and wellbeing, with many blaming a lack of time or confusion over what is actually good for them.

15% of Scots admit that not having enough time is the top reason for struggling to look after wellbeing, with nearly 1 in 10 (8%) saying they have just five minutes or less a day to spend on looking after diet and nutrition.

Over 1 in 10 people (12%) say that they have less than five minutes a day to commit to mental wellbeing, while almost 1 in 20 (4%) say they have just five minutes a day to spend on exercise.

Other reasons people struggle to look after their wellbeing are confusion around the conflicting information available (14%) or simply not having the willpower (13%).

More than 1 in 20 people (6%) blamed feeling defeated due to positive changes never lasting long, confusion over who or what sources to trust (5%), not knowing where to start (4%), or being confused by health myths online (2%).

On the research, dietitian Jennifer Low commented: “There is so much misinformation about diet and health and the research reveals many people are confused about the best ways to look after their overall health.

“It seems many also feel like they don’t have the time required to look after their wellbeing, as they are prioritising other areas of their lives. Whilst things like watching TV and gaming are forms of self-care and sadly for some, maybe the only form of rest they know, it’s also sad to see that so many people have so little time to spend on things like exercise, healthy eating, and sleep – which can benefit gut health as well as overall health.

“Small changes however, such as a gentle walk or including more fruit and vegetables each day, can have a big impact on your health. There is no need to take part in the latest diet or exercise fad or download the latest app.

“I would encourage people to start small, making one easy change at a time, thinking about what they can add to their life and diet, and build from there.”

Alongside the poll of consumers, the research from Yakult Plus also included a survey of nearly 500 dietitians conducted through the British Dietetic Association (BDA). It echoed the findings of the consumer survey – that 1 in 3 (36%) people say to dietitians that they find it complicated to look after their health, with one of the top reasons being a lack of time (16%).

The survey of dietitians revealed however that 9 in 10 (86%) of the dietitians questioned believe people may actually be overcomplicating looking after their wellbeing.

The research was commissioned by Yakult Plus to mark the launch of Yakult Plus and highlight how quick and easy everyday changes can make a big difference to one’s overall health.

Like all Yakult products, Yakult Plus is bursting with 20 billion friendly bacteria, scientifically proven to reach the gut alive, but in addition, is rich in vitamin C which supports the immune system and helps lower fatigue and also contains fibre that can feed the bacteria in the gut. Quick to enjoy every morning, it fits in easily to your routine.

For further information, please visit www.yakult.co.uk.