2026
9
UK Attitudes towards Health Management Consumer Report 2026
2026-01-30T16:04:19+00:00
REPB07A528B_9E77_4F31_BA52_8B9E779F31BE
2195
190804
[{"name":"Health and Wellbeing","url":"https:\/\/store.mintel.com\/industries\/health-wellbeing"},{"name":"Consumer Attitudes","url":"https:\/\/store.mintel.com\/industries\/consumer-insights\/consumer-attitudes"},{"name":"Market Intelligence Reports","url":"https:\/\/store.mintel.com\/report-type\/market-intelligence-reports"},{"name":"UK","url":"https:\/\/store.mintel.com\/markets\/uk-market-research"}]
Report
en_GB
73% of British adults consider themselves at least somewhat physically healthy, but there is a signifcant risk of overconfidence. Only 8% self-identify as obese, despite NHS England finding that 30%…
UK
Health and Wellbeing
Consumer Attitudes
simple

UK Attitudes towards Health Management Consumer Report 2026

"Most UK consumers feel good about their health, but money and overconfidence remain barriers to improvement. Brands can appeal to concerns about the future to boost engagement now."

Rich Shepherd, Associate Principal - Consumer Insights

Rich Shepherd, Associate Principal - Consumer Insights

73% of British adults consider themselves at least somewhat physically healthy, but there is a signifcant risk of overconfidence. Only 8% self-identify as obese, despite NHS England finding that 30% meet the medical definition. This reveals a potentially dangerous gap in self-perception, with many unaware of health risks and likely to miss opportunities for early intervention.

As the recovery from the cost-of-living crisis continues, Brits are able to put more focus on their health. Increased spend on fitness is indicative of this as more consumers prioritise wellbeing. However, cost-of-living constraints still present a significant barrier, particularly for lower-income groups. Affordability remains a key consideration across the health and wellness space to provide healthy options for consumers regardless of financial situation.

Addressing work-related health issues is a major opportunity for brands and employers, given the high productivity cost of sick days in the UK. 48% of UK workers say their work life gets in the way of having a more healthy lifestyle, pointing to a need to help people develop and maintain healthier routines during and around their work day.

Collapse All
  1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

    • What you need to know
    • Outlook for health management
    • Opportunities
    • Workday wellness revolution
    • Affordable wellness wins
    • Promote fitness today to secure health in the future
  2. THE MARKET

    • Ongoing cost-of-living concerns are a major barrier to health improvements
    • Gyms benefit from an increase in health spending
    • Many fail to recognise weight issues
    • Graph 1: overweight and obesity prevalence, by age, 2024
    • Rising long-term sickness is a strain on businesses and the economy
    • Graph 2: percentage of economically inactive people aged 16-64 who are economically inactive due to long-term sickness, by gender, 2019-25
    • Health reviews are focusing on access and health inequalities
  3. THE CONSUMER

    • State of physical and mental health
    • The majority of Brits are positive about their health
    • Physical health declines with age, but most over-65s feel healthy
    • Graph 3: self-reported description of physical health, by age, 2025
    • Financial pressures harm all aspects of health
    • Graph 4: proportion of consumers who consider themselves physically and/or mentally healthy, by financial situation, 2025
    • Three quarters have experienced a health condition in the last year
    • Focus on improving mental wellbeing upon British women
    • Graph 5: experience of selected health issues in the last 12 months, by gender, 2025
    • Promote a holistic, positive approach to wellbeing to prevent a range of issues
    • Effort put into health management
    • Brits are getting out what they put into their health
    • Graph 6: self-reported description of physical health, by effort put into being healthy, 2025
    • Educate hard-up consumers on budget-friendly steps to good health
    • Graph 7: effort put into being healthy, by financial situation, 2025
    • Exercise, diet and socialising lead efforts to improve wellbeing…
    • …but it’s easy for consumers to overestimate their level of commitment to health
    • Parents of young children represent a keen market for sleep solutions
    • Health management products and priorities
    • Avoiding illness is the primary focus
    • Product choices reflect the emphasis on strong immune systems
    • Graph 8: most common products/services used to manage health in the last 12 months, 2025
    • Medical weight loss solutions continue to grow
    • Speak to concerns about ageing to maximise investment in health now
    • Work and health management
    • Failures in work-life balance are a major strain on workers’ health
    • Graph 9: response to the statement “My work life gets in the way of me having a more healthy lifestyle”, by age, 2025
    • Help get workers active with age-targeted sessions
    • Get workers moving to improve health and cohesion…
    • …throughout the work day
    • Reduce the mental strain of work with balance and support
  4. APPENDIX

    • Report scope
    • The consumer
    • Consumer research questions
    • Consumer research methodology
    • Repertoire analysis methodology
    • UK generation groups
    • Other data source methodologies
    • Snoop SpendMapper methodology
    • Abbreviations

Market Intelligence Made Easier With Mintel

The first Mintel Market Intelligence report was published over 50 years ago. Since then, we have provided our unique insights and understanding of consumers, innovation and global markets to thousands of customers worldwide. Here’s why our customers rely on Mintel:

  • Gain a comprehensive, 360-degree view of the market: Mintel reports blend consumer research, market forecasts, product innovation tracking, and competitive analysis, allowing businesses to see every angle of their industry and identify new opportunities quickly.
  • Make decisions with confidence, grounded in robust data: Each report draws on up-to-date, reliable information from trusted sources and industry experts, ensuring your strategies are based on solid evidence rather than speculation.
  • Benefit from expert analysis and practical recommendations: Mintel’s reports are written by experienced analysts who interpret complex data and provide clear, actionable insights you can trust to guide your next moves.
  • Stay ahead with actionable intelligence on market trends and consumer behaviour: By combining fresh research with long-term market monitoring, our reports help businesses anticipate changes and adapt strategically. So you’re prepared to make informed decisions and drive growth.

What goes into a Mintel Market Intelligence Report?

Curious about how a Market Intelligence report comes together? We like to think of it as building a detailed puzzle. We start with individual pieces: data from consumers, market statistics, industry trends, and online conversations. Then our expert analysts add world-class human insight and industry knowledge. The pieces are assembled to reveal a clear, comprehensive picture of a market.

The Four Pillars of Our Research

We use a combination of four main research methods when creating our reports, each adding a valuable perspective:

  • Consumer Research: Direct surveys with real people, giving us clear, current insights into what people think and do.
  • Desk Research: In-depth review of trusted data sources. We use this rich database, plus powerful internal tools that track new products and market sizes, to detect trends and guide forecasts.
  • Trade Research: Insights from conversations with industry experts. Their real-world experience helps us understand what’s happening behind the scenes.
  • Brand and Social Media Research: Analysis of online opinions and trends. This lets us spot trends, measure brand sentiment, and capture feedback in real time, adding further depth to our research.

Bringing It All Together

Each of these four pillars provides a different piece of the puzzle. Consumer research tells us what customers think, desk research provides the factual framework, trade research offers an insider’s view, and social media analysis reveals public sentiment.

Our expert analysts are skilled in weaving these diverse data streams together. They apply a range of quantitative and qualitative analysis techniques to uncover the deeper story, connecting the dots to deliver clear, actionable insights. This comprehensive, multi-layered process is how we transform raw data into a market intelligence report you can trust to inform your most important business decisions.

£ 2,195 (Excl.Tax)
  • Download today with instant access
  • Multiple formats provided
  • Interactive databook included
  • Save 20% when you purchase two or more reports
Add to cart

Next Starts Here

Whatever your business needs, we have the solution. From market intelligence reports to customised growth strategies.

Learn more

Trusted by global industry leaders

VML logo

We use Mintel to inform our thinking and reinforce strategy. If you’re presenting new ideas, it’s essential they are underpinned by robust data and evidence, and clearly rooted in fact.

Mintel gives us all that. It’s a great brand and one that is trusted by clients.

Marie Stafford, European Director, The Innovation Group, VML
Jackman logo

At Jackman, we believe that powerful strategies are based on human insight. Mintel’s leading-edge reports and insights into consumer attitudes and behaviors are an important input as we develop and execute strategy.

Alana Gavin, VP Research and Insights, Jackman
Epsilon logo

We utilize Mintel Reports, Trends and Comperemedia to mine for insights across the numerous business verticals that Epsilon serves, such as CPG, automotive, telecom, healthcare/pharma, retail and financial services.

By integrating Mintel insight into new business opportunities, we have been able to gain the competitive edge necessary to advance partnerships with global brands and key business players.

For our organization, it’s about depth and breadth. Having one without the other doesn’t enable success in our business.

Virginia Harvey, Secondary Research Manager, Epsilon
VocaLink logo

We use Mintel Reports, mostly for financial services and ecommerce markets, plus a few retail and technology ones.

As a leading payments provider, we value additional insights into consumer behaviour, opinions and trends that are shaping the many different markets we operate in. Mintel is a very good and very quick way for us to obtain those insights.

We use Mintel to get a view on where a particular market is going, which can support us in product development and help us identify opportunities or indeed risks, it is a very useful barometer of a market’s potential.

 

Andrew Neeson, Market Intelligence Manager, VocaLink
Mediacom logo

Mintel is really good for getting a handle on a particular category quickly. If we are working on a new business pitch in an area we don’t have much experience in, it’s a brilliant way to get up to speed with what’s going on, what’s changing and what the key trends are in any category.

It’s very rare now that anyone will plough through a 200-page report – that’s why the summaries are really useful. We know they are backed up by a lot of detail, so if you need to go into something in more depth you know the information will be all there for you.

Pauline Robson, Managing Partner, Mediacom

Next Starts Here

Whatever your business needs, we have the solution. From market intelligence reports to customised growth strategies.

Learn more