Overview
- More than half of respondents admitted ignoring potentially worrying physical or mental issues, with 40% of that group later facing more serious problems.
- One in five said they avoid seeing a doctor during the festive period, while 29% reported their health typically worsens in December with less exercise, more food and more alcohol.
- The leading reasons for delay were hoping symptoms would pass (47%), fear of a diagnosis (29%), lack of time (26%) and embarrassment (23%).
- Younger men were likelier to overlook mental health concerns (44% of 18–24s), whereas older men reported greater confidence in tackling problems.
- Essity, which commissioned the OnePoll research, has begun installing Health on the Shelf stations at five UK sites and is offering free employee health checks tracking blood pressure, heart rate, stress and cardiovascular risk.