Few people are surprised to see people of all ages engaging in some form of physical activity. Not just on the weekends. It’s part of our daily routine, every day, every time. The popularity of athletic shoes has clearly contributed to this.
Increase physical activity and also be more careful about what you eat (this does not mean that they will do it correctly). While the general public ethos recommends eating as balanced a diet as possible, incorporating vegetables, legumes, fish, and fruit, what your body really wants is to gorge on a T-bone steak. Are they all achieving it? Obviously that’s not the case, but the public seems to accept that healthy dogma.
Spaniards and Portuguese are most concerned about aging and physical decline
The changes that Spanish society has undergone in recent decades in terms of health care and welfare are more than astonishing. In fact, Spain is at the forefront not only in the practice of physical activity, but also in the practice of a healthy diet. It is one of the countries where the most medical examinations are carried out and where people are most active in promoting social relationships as a source of well-being.
According to the Stada Health Report, this is the 10th edition of a survey conducted between February and March among 46,000 people in 23 European countries, including Spain. The report reveals that Spaniards rank first among Europeans when it comes to health care. After Finland, it is the most physically active country, with 62% reporting this, just 4 points below and 2 points above Finns. Third place goes to Italians (European average is 50%).
Another healthy habit adopted by Spaniards is eating a varied and balanced diet. According to the study, half of Europeans (49%) claim to have a healthy diet, with the highest numbers in the Netherlands and Spain (68%), followed by Italy (67%). And the benefits are clear. 83% say they feel better physically and 50% say they feel better mentally when they eat a balanced diet.
Czechs (56%), Germans and Slovaks (48%) top the list of people undergoing health checks.
Additionally, 41% of Spaniards have undergone preventive health check-ups, which is 7 points higher than the European average, but there is still significant room for improvement. Czechs (56%), Germans and Slovaks (48%) are at the forefront of those receiving health checks.
Furthermore, almost 40% of Spaniards believe that spending time with friends and loved ones is a clear investment in their overall well-being, which is 9 points higher than the European average .
Why are Spaniards leading the way in self-care for their health? Although this report does not delve into these issues, it does highlight concerns about the aging population of Spain and its effects. In this sense, Spaniards rank as the Europeans most concerned about becoming dependent individuals as they age (73%), surpassed only by Portuguese (74%). This concern is more pronounced among people aged 55 and older (87%), but also among younger people (69% of those aged 35-54).
Other concerns for Spaniards are age-related physical decline (74%) and neurodegenerative diseases (69%).
The main concerns associated with aging in Spain include age-related physical decline (74%) and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease (69%). Furthermore, almost 60% of the population fears developing heart disease.
That said, the data in this report portrays Spaniards as positive in almost every area. According to this report, satisfaction with each healthcare system in Europe has fallen to 56% of the population, down 18 points from 2020, while in Spain it remains at 71% of the population, ranking third behind Belgium and Switzerland. ranked in the top five countries. , Denmark, Austria.
The most valued aspects include access to physician and pharmacist advice (55%), access to medicines (49%), and preventive health services (47%).
Almost 7 in 10 Europeans say they trust conventional medicine
And although dissatisfaction with the health care system has declined in Europe, trust in medicine, understood as a science-based practice, has not. Nearly seven in 10 Europeans say they trust conventional medicine, with Spain and Finland having the most ardent supporters, with rates exceeding 80%.
feeling of loneliness
In a highly connected world, many people claim to feel alone in Spain. This is expressed by 48% of Spaniards, and this sentiment is worse among younger people, reaching 65% among those under 35 years of age. Among the reasons explaining this feeling of loneliness are lack of time to increase social contacts and overwork. , the loss of a loved one, or spending too much time on social media or video games. When asked what aspects need to change to ensure that loneliness and other related mental health issues are no longer a problem in society, people under 35 answered that work and family They wanted to have a better balance in their lives (60%) and improve their financial situation, as noted by 51% of those surveyed.
