Survey finds diet and exercise knowledge gaps

People in England are still not fully aware of the levels of exercise they should be taking and the amount of fruits and vegetables they should be consuming as part of a healthy, balanced diet, it has been revealed.

The Health Survey for England shows that while more people in the country now realise that they should be exercising regularly and eating five portions of fruits and vegetables a day, there are still gaps in their knowledge.

For instance, just 14 per cent of men and 11 per cent of women know what constitutes a single serving of a fruit or vegetable, while the majority are unaware that the government recommends adults should exercise for at least 30 minutes, five times a day.

According to Betty McBride, BHF's director of police and communications, this has implications for heart health.

'It's really worrying that people aren't clear how much exercise you need for a healthy heart,' she commented.

'The vital statistics are straightforward. For a healthy heart, kids need to do an hour of physical activity a day, and adults half an hour. And it can be any kind of physical activity that raises your heart rate.'

The BHF noted that smoking can also have an impact on heart health, and therefore called for a blanket ban on vending machines that sell cigarettes.ADNFCR-554-ID-18934308-ADNFCR

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
More From Wellbeing