Few people are surprised to see people of all ages engaging in some form of physical activity. And not just on weekends. Every day, at all hours, it’s incorporated into daily routines. The widespread use of athletic shoes has clearly contributed to this.
More physical activity and also more care with what is eaten (which doesn’t mean they do it right). The prevailing social spirit advocates for the most balanced diet possible, with the presence of vegetables, legumes, fish, and fruits, although what the body really craves is to devour a T-bone steak. Do they all achieve it? Obviously not, but it seems that the population has embraced that healthy dogma.
Spaniards and Portuguese people are the most concerned about aging and physical deterioration
The change that Spanish society has undergone in terms of healthcare and well-being in recent decades is more than remarkable. In fact, Spain is at the forefront not only in practicing physical activity, but also in following a healthy diet. It is one of the countries where the most health check-ups are performed and where people are most involved in promoting social relationships as a source of well-being.
According to the Stada Health Report, the tenth edition of a survey conducted with 46,000 people from 23 European countries, including Spain, between the months of February and March. The report reveals that Spaniards are among the Europeans who are at the top when it comes to taking care of their health: after Finland, they are the most physically active, with 62% reporting so, only four points below the Finns and two points above the Italians, in third place (the European average is 50%).
Another healthy habit that Spaniards have embraced is having a varied and balanced diet. According to this study, half of Europeans claim to follow a healthy diet (49%), with the Netherlands and Spain leading the way (68%), followed by Italy (67%). And the benefits are clear: 83% say that eating balanced meals makes them feel good physically, and 50% feel better mentally.
At the top of the list of people who get check-ups are the Czechs (56%) and the Germans and Slovaks (48%)
In addition, 41% of Spaniards undergo preventive health check-ups, seven points higher than the European average, although there is still significant room for improvement. At the forefront of getting check-ups are the Czechs (56%) and the Germans and Slovaks (48%).
Additionally, nearly 40% of Spaniards consider the time they spend with their friends and loved ones to be a clear investment in their overall well-being, 9 points higher than the European average.
Why do Spaniards lead in self-care for health? The report does not delve into these issues, but it does highlight the Spaniards’ concern about aging and its consequences. In this sense, Spaniards rank among the most concerned Europeans about becoming dependent individuals (73%) as they age, surpassed only by the Portuguese (74%). This concern is more pronounced in those over 55 years old (87%), but it is also shared by younger individuals (69% of those aged 35 to 54 years old).
The physical decline associated with age (74%) and neurodegenerative diseases (69%) are other concerns of Spaniards
Physical decline due to aging (74%) and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s (69%) are among the main concerns associated with aging in Spain. Additionally, almost 60% of the population is afraid of suffering from a heart disease.
That being said, the data in this report portrays Spaniards as positive in almost every field. While it shows that European satisfaction with their respective healthcare systems decreases to 56% of the population, 18 percentage points lower than in 2020, in Spain it remains at 71% of citizens, ranking among the top five countries in Europe, behind Belgium, Switzerland, Denmark, and Austria.
Among the aspects most valued are access to medical and pharmacist advice (55%), access to medication (49%), and preventive health services (47%).
Almost 7 out of 10 Europeans claim to trust conventional medicine
And, although dissatisfaction with healthcare systems has decreased in Europe, confidence in medicine, understood as an act based on science, has not. Almost 7 out of 10 Europeans claim to trust conventional medicine, with percentages exceeding 80% in Spain and Finland, where the most staunch supporters are found.
Feeling of loneliness
In a hyperconnected world, many people claim to feel lonely in Spain. This is indicated by 48% of Spaniards, a feeling that is exacerbated in the younger population, with a figure of 65% among those under 35. Among the reasons explaining this feeling of loneliness are the lack of time for more social contact, excessive work, the loss of loved ones, or spending too much time on social media or video games. When asked about what aspects should change for loneliness and other mental health problems related to it to no longer be an issue in society, the response from those under 35 is to better balance work and family life (60%) and to improve the economic situation, as pointed out by 51% of those surveyed.
