One in Five Not Bothered About Their Health

Over Half of Irish People Visit the Doctor “Rarely” as Aviva Health Survey Reveals the Nation’s Health Habits

Dublin, 8th March 2010: A survey investigating the nation’s health habits carried out by Aviva’s Health Insurance division has revealed that a worrying one in five “don’t bother much about their health” opting to take care of it once they get older. 

Over fifty percent of Irish people have revealed they visit the doctor ‘rarely’ according to a survey investigating the nation’s health habits carried out by Aviva’s Health Insurance division. Over half of respondents admitted to having a ‘fix me’ attitude to managing their health with 53 percent admitting that they only go to the doctor ‘once they notice the illness symptoms appearing and getting more serious’.

Less than a third, 29 percent, report a pro-active approach to their health, believing that a healthy diet, regular exercise, low stress and regular health checks will keep them in good shape for longer. Aviva is encouraging the nation to take control its health, combining a healthy lifestyle choice with regular health checks. Health insurance from Aviva offers members discounts on health screens and money back on G.P. and physiotherapy visits.

Commenting on the results of the survey Dr Stephen Murphy, GP and member of Aviva’s Medical Council said, “The results of this survey show a worrying attitude to health from the Irish population. I would recommend that healthy adults visit their doctor once every two years for a general health check. Many people can usefully increase their exercise levels, check with your GP if you have any concerns. ”

This independent research was commissioned by Aviva as part of a Facebook survey into the health of the Irish nation. Facebook users were asked a series of questions about their exercise habits, how often they visited their GPs and also how they rated their own health. When asked about the frequency of health checks , 19 percent of all respondents have a health check once every two years with 9.4 percent of the 434 people surveyed going once a year to the doctor.

The Aviva survey also showed that almost one third of the Irish population exercise rarely, if at all*. Only 8 percent of respondents exercise everyday, 10 percent a couple of times a week and 28 percent exercise at least once a week.

An overview of the survey’s findings is as follows: 

• One in five “don’t bother much about health”
• 72% visit the doctor rarely or only when ill
• 19% have a health check once every two years
• 9.4% visit their doctor once a year
• 53% rarely go to the doctor
• 8% of respondents exercise everyday
• 10% exercise a couple of times a week
• 28% exercise once a week
• 29% have a proactive approach to health 

For further information visit www.avivahealth.ie

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Notes to editors:

About Aviva Health Insurance Ireland Limited
Aviva Health Insurance Ireland Limited, Ireland’s fastest growing private health insurer, is a division of Aviva Group Ireland plc, Ireland’s leading insurance company with 1.2 million customers across the general insurance, life and pensions and health insurance sectors.
Aviva Group Ireland plc is a subsidiary of Aviva plc. Aviva is one of the world’s largest savings, general insurance and investment groups with the purpose of delivering prosperity and peace of mind to its customers.

*Aviva Health “Health of the Nation” online research results of 434 respondents