Family and friends have more influence on diet than the government, online healthy living survey reveals

8th July 2010, 11:37am

People are more likely to listen to the advice of friends and family than follow government guidelines when it comes to their eating habits, says a new survey.

And the data by YouGov Sixth Sense has found that cookery shows and documentaries also have more impact on the public than government healthy eating campaigns.

The research, which was collated in an online healthy living survey of 2,151 UK adults aged 16 and over, comes after Health Minister Andrew Lansley criticized the 'Jamie Oliver approach' to improving people's health.

Lansley argued in a conference in Brighton that Oliver's methods in trying to increase public awareness of health and fitness were not working and instead advocated an 'evidence-based' solution to the nations health problems.

Lansley said in the conference: "If we are constantly lecturing people and trying to tell them what to do, we will actually find that we undermine and are counterproductive in the results that we achieve."

The study found that only 10% of respondents said that they were influenced in their food choices by government healthy eating campaigns - with the figure decreasing to 8% for less affluent respondents.

Celebrity and media influence on the other hand were found to be far more powerful with 31% of those surveyed admitting to using cookery programmes to give them ideas on what to eat. In addition, 21% of respondents cited TV documentaries as paying a part in helping them decide what foods to eat.

Beating the media and the government however was the influence of friends and family, with 39% claiming that the advice of a friend or loved one was the most influential factor when making food choices.

The survey also revealed that the government's drive to get everybody eating 'five-a-day' was failing with only 13% of respondents currently meeting the government's recommended quota of fruit and vegetables a day. And according to the study, 15% of adults claim to be on a 'perpetual diet'.

Research director for YouGov SixthSense James McCoy said: "If the government wishes to provide a viable alternative to Jamie Oliver, then it would be wise to re-examine its own record thus far. There is considerable evidence in our report which suggests government influence is often marginal."

Related Articles:

• 14 Jul 2010 - Health Secretary's plan to scrap Food Standards Agency stalled
• 08 Jul 2010 - More kids are eating school lunches, according to national figures
• 01 Jul 2010 - The Healthy Borough Programme hosts healthier frying workshop for restaurants
• 04 Jan 2010 - Jamie Oliver wins TED prize for “transforming children’s food”

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