London: Almost a third of women (31 per cent) in their early sixties believe they look ten years younger. Almost a quarter of men in their early 60s (24 per cent) believe they look 10 years younger.
The majority of people in the UK say they look and feel younger than their years. 12 per cent of women aged 36 or over believe they look ten years younger than their years and almost a third (31 per cent) say they feel ten years younger than their real age!*
The new research, compiled by innovative private medical insurer, PruHealth, reveals despite the pressures of modern life, the majority of Britons excel at holding back the years.
The Older, the Better!
Contrary to popular belief, more than half (54 per cent) of women aged 40-plus believe they look younger than they are. But its not just women who look and feel younger than their years, 14 per cent of men in their early 40s think they look 10 years younger than they actually are.
70 per cent of women in their early sixties feel ten years younger, and a third (31 per cent) say they look ten years younger. Similarly, almost a quarter of men in their early 60s (24 per cent) believe they look 10 years younger.
However, the optimum age for looking and feeling younger is in your 70s, with 93 per cent of women feeling younger and 84 per cent saying they look younger than their years!
Modern Living
The pressures of modern life are taking the biggest toll on men and women in their thirties, with juggling work, starting a family and financial worries impacting on this generations looks. 17 per cent of men and 12 per cent of women in their thirties think they look older than their years.
The findings also reveal the majority of Britons manage to stay looking and feeling youthful despite putting daily pressures on their bodies:
· Nearly one in four (23 per cent) Brits say their stress levels are eight or above on a scale of one to 10 (10 being the highest)
· 45 per cent of people have six hours of sleep or less per night
· Nearly one in four (23 per cent) adults drink more than 14 units of alcohol each week
· A fifth (20 per cent) of Brits smoke cigarettes every day
· 50 per cent of people only do moderate exercise less than once a week
Spend to Mend
For many Brits, the secret to eternal youth could be down to balanced lifestyles. Although the average person splurges nearly £50 a month (£48.13) on booze, cigarettes and junk food, we also spend £29.03 each month on fruit and veg and vitamins. Our monthly spend of £25.94 on skin, hair and body care could also be in a bid to stave off the ugly effects of fatty foods, cigarettes and alcohol, such as bad skin and greasy hair.
Katie Roswell, Health and Lifestyle Expert, PruHealth, said: Despite many recent warnings of bad diets and binge drinking, people in the UK are generally living balanced lifestyles and as a result are feeling and looking better than ever. If we continue to move in the right direction by eating sensibly, cutting back on smoking and making time in our busy schedules for regular exercise, hopefully well be able to continue holding back the years!
Full consumer product information can be found at www.pruhealth.co.uk
*YouGov conducted an online survey of 2,193 people for PruHealth between 20 23rd April 2007. Data is weighted to be representative of the GB population.
** Government Actuary Department, 2005
About PruHealth
PruHealth was launched in October 2004 as a joint venture between Prudential and Discovery Holdings from South Africa. Since launch, PruHealth has grown quickly. It now covers over 100,000 lives and in a sample of its individual customers, one third said they had changed their behaviour for the better because of its Vitality reward scheme which encourages policyholders to look after their health.
PruHealth was chosen, among other stakeholders, to champion the Department of Healths “small change, big difference campaign.”
The campaign is aimed at adults with the message that even small changes in diet and physical activity can make a difference. Launched by Tony Blair and Patricia Hewitt in April 2006, PruHealth was the only private medical insurer to be selected at launch.