Only around 30 per cent of people eat the recommended amount of fruit and veg as the government’s healthy eating guidelines have caused a cloud of confusion for consumers, according to a survey released this week.
Despite a multi-million pound awareness campaign to help people understand the government's guidelines on healthy eating, smoking and drinking, few people know or comprehend the guidelines, according to data from the annual Health Survey for England.
Only 27 per cent of men and 31 per cent of women eat the recommended five portions of fruit and vegetables a day and only 14 per cent of men and 11 per cent of women could always correctly identify a portion of fruit or veg.
The survey of data and attitudes in 2007, published by the NHS Information Centre, showed that obesity has steadily climbed over the last 14 years.
Obesity levels in 1993 were at 13 per cent for men and 16 per cent of women were overweight, but by 2007 the figure was 24 per cent for men and women. The proportion of people overweight has remained fairly constant at around 37 per cent. Among children, obesity has risen from 11 per cent of boys and 12 per cent of girls in 1995 to 17 per cent and 16 per cent in 2007.
Nearly four out of five women but only three out of five men (78 per cent and 62 per cent) knew that the recommended number of daily portions was five, despite the huge 5 A DAY campaign. In identifying a portion of fruit and vegetables, 76 per cent of men and 80 per cent of women regularly identified them correctly.
The report pointed out the clear link between unhealthy diet and poor health and premature death, which is costing the NHS more than £2 billion.
"The subsequent government white paper, 'Choosing a better diet: a food and health action plan', identiï¬ted a number of priorities for action surrounding health and nutrition to contribute to a reduction in cardiovascular disease, cancer and obesity,” the report said.
Mark Davies, a GP and medical director of the NHS Information Centre, said: "It is important that people understand the health implications of the lifestyle choices they make.
“It is of concern that the messages of safe alcohol intake, appropriate exercise levels, and healthy eating do not seem to be getting through to all parts of the population. This is something the country needs to address if we are to avoid significant health problems in the near future," he said.
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