More eating healthily and exercising, report shows

This news item was added on 1st February 2008

The number of people exercising and eating five portions of fruit and vegetables per day has risen, a new survey reveals.

According to the Health Survey for England, the proportion of men and women meeting recommendations to exercise for five or more 30-minute sessions per week has risen from 32 per cent and 21 per cent respectively in 1997 to 40 per cent and 28 per cent respectively.

Meanwhile, 28 per cent of men and 32 per cent of women are now eating the recommended five portions of fruit and vegetables a day, compared to just 23 per cent of men and 27 per cent of women in 2004.

However, experts point out that those meeting the recommendations are still in the minority, a fact that is reflected in rising levels of obesity, diabetes and heart disease.

Rachel Craig, research director of the Health Survey for England at the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen), commented: "While it is encouraging that there are signs people are beginning to improve their lifestyles - eating more fruit and vegetables, exercising more, smoking less - many serious health conditions continue to increase, and we need to do more to reduce risks of heart disease."