Most ‘have a healthy diet’ but few eat five a day

THE majority of Scots believe they have a healthy diet, but only a fifth actually eat the recommended five fruit and vegetables a day, a report shows.

Research by NHS Health Scotland found that 88 per cent of people said they had a fairly or very healthy diet, but only 22 per cent ate at least five fruit and vegetable portions a day.

The study found there was a gap between what people knew about good health, how healthy they thought they were and how healthy a lifestyle they led.

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The research revealed that people were still drinking too much despite being aware of guidance on alcohol intake. And there was no significant change in exercise levels despite increased knowledge of what they should be doing.

The research found that 36 per cent of people who did less than 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity a week thought they did enough to stay healthy.

The government recommends at least 30 minutes of moderate activity on most days of the week. But 44 per cent of Scots underestimated the amount they were urged to do.

The survey found a third of people had not taken any steps to increase the activity they did in the past year and had no plans to do so in the future.

The Knowledge, Attitudes and Motivations to Health report also found that people living in more deprived areas were more likely to report feeling that they had little or no influence on their own health.

Dr Gerry McCartney, head of public health observatory at NHS Health Scotland, said: “These findings suggest … there is little to be gained from a focus on improving the knowledge of which behaviours are healthy.

“Instead, the health of Scotland is more likely to be enhanced by focusing on policies which support individual health behaviour change, such as regulation of the food, tobacco and alcohol industries, creating a healthy environment and reducing poverty.”