EMPLOYEE HEALTH

Tue, 17 Jul 2007 | Updated: Fri, 21 Nov 2008 10:59 am

More than 1.5 million people who have gone ‘smoke free’ as a direct result of the 1 July smoking ban have also made a commitment to healthy eating and exercise.

New research from Nuffield Proactive Health shows that 13% of smokers have stopped smoking or smoke less since the ban was introduced. Of those who gave up, a staggering amount have committed to completely overhauling their lifestyles.

Already 27% are eating more healthily (rising to 34% among men) and 20% do more exercise.

This proves that the ban has had a positive effect on the health and wellbeing of thousands – and not just on their nicotine levels.  Their whole lifestyle is benefiting, with 18% claiming to drink less alcohol than before the ban as a result of a new healthy outlook.

Nuffield Proactive Health chief executive, Chris Jessop, comments: “The smoking ban has clearly helped people get into a mindset where they want to positively change their lifestyle and habits forever.”

Of all the age groups, 18-25 year olds have made the greatest effort on the smoking front – 36% of them who smoke have quit. The 35-44 year old age group is most likely to have cut down drinking (27%).

Northerners are most likely to have adopted a healthier diet to complement their new non smoking ways (32%) with the Midlands trailing in last place, where only 7% are making a positive change to their eating habits.