New research suggests that more than 1 in 2 Australians claim to be far healthier than they are. In a new survey of a nationally representative pool of 1000 Australians who don’t hold private health insurance, 57%*claim to be ‘health conscious’. Of these, 67% admitted to making unhealthy life choices such as smoking and binge drinking, and 51% admitted to spending nothing on their health in 2014 - such as gym and exercise, sport, medicines and supplements, health foods or health practitioners.

In the survey, commissioned by comparethemarket.com.au, a significant 4 out of 5 (79%) said they ‘struggle to maintain a healthy lifestyle’. When asked about the main inhibitors to maintaining a healthy lifestyle, 27% of respondents admitted they had ‘other important responsibilities’ while a further 23% identified lack of finances as their main hurdle. A further 15% said that they were too busy or didn’t know where to start.

Of concern, 11% of all respondents maintained they are happy with the way they live their life, even if it is unhealthy. Just 21% said that they found a healthy lifestyle easy to maintain.

In the past 12 months, nearly all respondents (90%) spent less than $100 per month (47%) or nothing at all (43%) on their health.

Comparethemarket.com.au spokesperson Abigail Koch says, “These findings suggest we may be a nation that talks the talk, but fails to walk the walk when it comes to valuing our health. It’s alarming to think that many Australians will protect assets such as cars and houses yet the most valued commodity of all, our health, is left without cover.

“It’s surprising that half of respondents describe themselves as health conscious when they choose not to have private health insurance, which could enable them to pick their own doctor, or when and where to have medical treatment if they fell ill or were injured.”

Looking forward to 2015, respondents were asked about their health goals, 60% wanted to be healthier than they currently are and 29% wanted to maintain their current level of healthiness. Reflective of the above, 11% don’t have any goals when it comes to health in 2015.

When asked how they intend to meet their health goals, the majority of respondents said they will do more exercise (69%) and eat a healthier diet (63%), followed by 47% who intend to get more sleep and rest, and 37% who plan to better manage stress. Only 25% plan to give up or reduce unhealthy habits such as smoking, while 12% said they would do so by going to see health practitioners more regularly.