NEWS
- From a new landmark study by Vitality on the barriers women face to getting active to a day in the life with cricket legend and Vitality Ambassador, Nat Sciver-Brunt, we bring you the latest from inside Vitality and beyond -
The kids are alright!
Join Vitality Ambassador Jessica Ennis-Hill as she enters the school gates to attend a Year Three healthy food lesson led by our new partner itsu
Start them young, they say. This is especially true when it comes to healthy food. According to the NHS, one in seven children aged between two and 15 were overweight or obese in 20221. Millions of pre-schoolers are not eating enough fruit and veg, according to research.2
This is where itsu’s Community Kitchen Project comes in. Set up in 2024, it’s on a mission to teach Year Three children about the nutritional value of veg before they roll up their sleeves to learn for themselves how to chop, grate and peel as part of the National Curriculum. And we were lucky enough to attend, when Vitality Ambassador Jessica Ennis-Hill made it through the school gates of Quarry Mount Primary School in Leeds to see a class in action. But not before she flashed her gold medal much to everyone’s amazement.
Find out what went on below
Be the best you
of women said they garner little enjoyment from exercise
A new landmark study by Vitality has laid bare the barriers women face when it comes to getting active
Just one in four British women are completing the recommended 150 minutes of moderate exercise on a weekly basis; with the least active age category those between 20 and 39 years’ old, Vitality’s new research conducted in partnership with The Well HQ and Women in Sport has revealed3. Two-thirds of respondents said that a lack of strength, their weight and low fitness levels discourage them from getting active in the first place. Similarly, 65% said they garner little enjoyment from exercise, indicating women’s experiences of sport and physical activity could be putting them off getting active in the future. Speaking on the topic, Vitality Ambassador Jessica Ennis-Hill said: “This report paints a worrying picture on the state of women’s exercise and the implications this has upon their health and wellbeing.” If you want to know more about how to get active in a way that’s right for you, head to page 16 to learn more.
Let’s talk about flex
We feel that working from home is better for us on the whole, but it’s a mixed picture when it comes to productivity
As a workforce, we are crying out for flexible working. Almost three quarters of those surveyed (73%) believe their boss should offer flexible working options4, while 63% of UK employees are working from home at least some of the time, according to new Vitality research. On the whole, we feel that working remotely is better for us mentally and physically, but when it comes to productivity, it’s a mixed picture. Some 34% of employees surveyed feel they are more productive working from home, 31% say they’re less productive, and 35% feel it doesn’t make a difference. Hybrid working and technology can also blur the boundaries between work and personal life. Almost half (46%) are finding it difficult to ‘switch off’ even while not at work, while three quarters of employees are still contactable for work reasons outside of working hours. “What the data is ultimately telling us is that our productivity is less dependent on where we work than on how healthy we are, with key risks such as mental health and sedentary lifestyles having a profound impact,” said Vitality’s James Belsham, researcher and health insurance expert.
Are you anti-social?
Adults who post a lot on social media are more at risk of mental health problems, research suggests
If you are a regular social media poster, you are more at risk of developing mental health problems, according to UCL researchers. Those most likely to be impacted are social media users who post on a daily basis; while those who view and post regularly also saw a dip in their mental health the following year, compared with those who rarely view or post on social media. “This may be because posting on social media can lead to negative interactions or cause anxiety about others’ judgement,” said lead author, Dr Ruth Plackett. The university admits that even though these are modest increases in mental health challenges, it spotlights the importance of developing ways to mitigate the negative impacts of social media. Plackett added: “This highlights the need for awareness about how different social media activities can affect mental wellbeing.”
a day in the life
From outdoor ice baths to rest-day walks, join Vitality Ambassador and self-proclaimed home-bird, Nat Sciver-Brunt, as she attends a training session and reflects on her position as a role model for female cricket.
Watch her Day in the Life below.
ARE YOU GETTING THE MOST OF YOUR PLAN?
1 NHS England » One in eight toddlers and primary school aged children obese
2 New report finds shocking lack of fruit and veg in children's diet | Nursery Management Today
3 Vitality research into Women in Sport, 2024.
4 Vitality internal research, 2024.
