Healthier Nation Index

The Nuffield Health Healthier Nation Index is our annual survey and one of the most detailed reviews of all aspects of the nation’s physical and mental health. Our aim is to understand how people are feeling, what their challenges are and how we can help them.

Social anxiety Connected Health Physical Health Mental Health Children's mental health

Do you shy away from the gym for fear of damaging your joints? You needn’t be worried. Exercise can in fact help to protect your joints, as well as relieve pain.

Updated: Thursday 16 March 2023

Published: Tuesday 2 October 2018

The health of your mind and body are intrinsically linked, but only 3 in 10 people acknowledge that exercise helps their mental health, according to latest data from our Healthier Nation Index. Brendan Street, Head of Emotional Wellbeing, explains how physical activity can help to prevent and manage stress.

Updated: Thursday 16 March 2023

Published: Monday 15 April 2019

Want to live a healthier lifestyle? But struggle to find the time or motivation to eat better and stay active. Our experts share 20 simple hacks you can build into your daily routine to help improve your diet and get you moving.

Updated: Friday 27 January 2023

Published: Friday 19 June 2015

Finding a way to become more active can be challenging, especially if you’re used to a more sedentary lifestyle or have simply fallen out of the habit. That’s why we’ve put together this easy 30-day exercise plan to help you build a routine to boost your fitness and wellbeing.

Updated: Wednesday 11 January 2023

Published: Wednesday 22 June 2016

Not getting as much exercise as you’d like? Whether you’re still working from home, or you’ve become less active since the pandemic, Professor Ben Kelly, Head of Clinical Research has five tips to help get you moving and improve your health.

Updated: Tuesday 10 January 2023

Published: Wednesday 30 March 2016

There's a lot of confusing terminology thrown around in the fitness industry. Senior Personal Trainer Phil Goulding breaks through the jargon to explain the definitions of the key training terms.

Updated: Thursday 24 November 2022

Published: Monday 4 January 2016

Back issues are extremely common. Research reveals that 4 in 5 adults (that’s 80%) experience the discomfort and distress of back pain at some point in their lifetime. Inactivity can make the muscles tighten up and the joints become stiff, so rest isn't always the best option. That’s why exercise is commonly advised as one of the best ways to help prevent and manage most back pain.

Updated: Wednesday 23 November 2022

Published: Thursday 12 November 2020

Feeling lonely is a normal human emotion and sign that we need social interaction, but it can be hard to talk about as it’s perceived to be a weakness. Brendan Street, Head of Emotional Wellbeing, discusses loneliness, mental health and how we can help support ourselves and each other.

Updated: Monday 7 November 2022

Published: Tuesday 22 December 2020

Speaking to kids about their emotional wellbeing can be challenging. Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist at Nuffield Health, Ekta Mansukhani, shares 10 tips to help you have conversations with children about mental health.

Updated: Friday 7 October 2022

Published: Thursday 11 July 2019

According to our Healthier Nation Index – a survey of more than 8,000 Britons about their health since the start of the pandemic – 41% of people said their mental health is worse than this time last year. Dr Gail Davies shares some mindfulness tips to help you become more resilient when faced with challenges.

Updated: Friday 7 October 2022

Published: Monday 14 March 2016

The pandemic has disrupted our lives in many ways, but we are beginning to see light at the end of the tunnel. Gosia Bowling, Prevention Lead of Emotional Wellbeing, explains why we may have experienced a crisis of confidence, and how we can stay resilient as lockdown measures continue to ease.

Updated: Friday 7 October 2022

Published: Wednesday 22 July 2020

There are limits to what we can control in the world, but there’s a lot we can do to control our mental response to it. Gosia Bowling, Emotional Wellbeing National Lead at Nuffield Health, explains why you may be feeling anxious and provides some advice for managing your mental wellbeing.

Updated: Friday 7 October 2022

Published: Monday 23 March 2020

Our minds are complex. Sometimes we may overthink or stress about situations, but changing our approach to the way we think can make all the difference. Prevention Lead Gosia Bowling and Head of Emotional Wellbeing Brendan Street discuss how our thoughts can sometimes make tough situations seem worse, while offering some healthier habits for our minds.

Updated: Friday 7 October 2022

Published: Wednesday 14 April 2021

You’ve taken control of your health and wellbeing and joined the gym, so why the worry? Senior Wellbeing Personal Trainer, Graham Morland, tackles first-time gym-goer anxieties head on.

Updated: Tuesday 20 September 2022

Published: Thursday 11 May 2017

Discover activities that will help your family stay fit and well while having fun at the same time. You'll barely even notice you're exercising.

Updated: Friday 2 September 2022

Published: Wednesday 27 February 2019

Small changes to your lifestyle could make you happier, and see you living a longer, healthier life. There's no magic cure, but Head of Clinical Research Dr Ben Kelly has 5 top tips to help you keep your mind and body firing on all cylinders well into retirement.

Updated: Tuesday 7 June 2022

Published: Thursday 31 August 2017

A new survey of 8000 UK adults has highlighted that two thirds of respondents (66 per cent) would not feel comfortable raising a mental or emotional wellbeing issue with their employer, and one third are offered no physical or emotional wellbeing support whilst in work.

Updated: Tuesday 10 May 2022

Published: Tuesday 10 May 2022

The recent announcements about a vaccine for COVID-19 has created a sense of hope for many of us. Brendan Street, Professional Head of Emotional Wellbeing, explains that the ability to hold onto hope will be key to maintaining your wellbeing in the coming months.

Updated: Thursday 22 July 2021

Published: Thursday 26 November 2020

Starting a training routine can be challenging. Personal Trainer Olivia Tyler gives her top tips for goal setting and building an effective training plan to set yourself up for success.

Updated: Thursday 20 May 2021

Published: Wednesday 18 September 2019

We have launched a free online ‘Kids Wellbeing Hub’ to help the physical and mental health of both children and parents.

Updated: Thursday 29 April 2021

Published: Monday 1 February 2021