Nearly half of the UK list achieving or maintaining a healthy weight as a number one health priority in 2023

This January we’ve conducted a YouGov Survey of over 2,000 UK adults which found that weight remains the key heath focus for the UK this New Year.

48% are prioritising their weight, with more specific aspects of health tending to take a back seat. While 34% of people are looking at their mental health, 22% their brain health, 19% their immunity, 16% are considering their blood pressure, 14% their cholesterol, 13% on their blood sugar, and 10% on their bone health.

This January, we are encouraging people to consider prioritising their health through what they eat, making small changes for the long term.

Working with Nutritionist Juliette Kellow, she explains: “Eating well is so much more than just managing our weight. It’s vital for every aspect of our health. It’s time to change the narrative to get everyone thinking more about how a healthy, balanced diet, packed with nutritious foods, can positively impact health and support wellbeing throughout the year – not just in January.”

NEARLY HALF ARE TAKING A RESTRICTIVE APPROACH TO DIETING

Our second YouGov study explored people’s approach to diet. This revealed that, for those looking to lose weight this year, taking a restrictive approach came out top, with 45% saying they would consider removing certain foods from their diet.

Almost a third (30%) of Britons would consider cheese to be on the unhealthy food list this year.

As a whole food, cheese is a natural source of calcium, fat, and protein. It contains high amounts of vitamins A and B12, along with zinc, phosphorus, and riboflavin. While cheese is traditionally considered to be high in fat, Eatlean offers cheese lovers all the benefits with only half the calories and 90% less fat than cheddar.

Kellow explained: “Healthy eating guidelines recommend a diet that’s lower in saturated fat, added sugar and salt. One way to achieve this is to enjoy a balanced diet that’s packed with fruit, vegetables and starchy, fibre-rich whole grains, combined with moderate portions of lower-fat dairy products and lean protein-rich foods.

“Enjoying food sits at the core of what we eat,” she added. “A healthy diet shouldn’t be about restricting or removing foods. It’s about promoting healthier choices and sustainable changes that enable people to take a year-round approach to improving their diets, whilst still eating all the foods they love.”