PruHealth: Many Brits are 'health illiterate'

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PruHealth: Many Brits are 'health illiterate'

Fri 5th May 2006

Britain is slipping into a state of 'health illiteracy' private medical insurer PruHealth has claimed today.

The company states that 33 million British people admit to being ignorant of key indicators of the state of their health and urges the nation to pay more attention to their health and fitness.

Such indicators as blood pressure, cholesterol and one's body mass index are important and useful factors in determining one's health, PruHealth states, and too many Britons are unaware of them.

Only a quarter of people know their body mass index, or weight to height ratio, the company explains, less than half know their blood pressure, 29 per cent know their cholesterol levels and 12 per cent don't know the history of illness in their family.

"Having a vague understanding of you height and weight and thinking you need to lose a few pounds is simply not enough to keep healthy," said Dr Chris Dark, medical director at PruHealth.

"Instead you need to know your vital stats and review them regularly. It's worth it because in the long run, it could help reduce and prevent future problems and, ultimately, save your life."

The PruHealth service offers free fitness assessments and discounted health screens to its members.

More information about this product can be found on the PruHealth website.