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Affluential indulgence: professionals putting their health at risk
Sophie Goodchild, Health Editor14.03.08
A new breed of affluent professionals is fuelling the country's health problems, researchers warn.
Experts say these "indulgents" are a health timebomb because of their love of the better things in life such as fine wine and eating out - even if they exercise and do not smoke.
The research shows they consume more than twice as much wine as the average Briton and visit restaurants more frequently than anyone else.
Today, data analysts CACI warned that such people, who account for nearly one in 10 of the population, face health risks even though they may not be overweight.
Ian Thurman, from CACI, said: "We often associate ill health with smoking, eating too much fast food and being relatively poor.
"Our findings show that a substantial section of the population do none of these things but their food and alcohol consumption is still putting their future health at risk - despite good levels of exercise."
CACI analysed data, including postcodes and census information, from 119 local authorities in the South-East, including 32 London boroughs.
They discovered that indulgents spend nearly twice as much as anyone else on wine for drinking at home - £6.21 a week, compared with the British average of £3.71.
The research showed these consumers are more likely to be in a family than single, and earn around £54,000 a year compared with the average British income of just over £33,000.
Their overall diet is more healthy than average because they eat a lot more fresh fish and vegetables than most people. They are also less likely to smoke or shun exercise - but therefore mistakenly believe they are immune from health problems.
Indulgent heartlands include Buckingham and Chalfont St Peter, where nearly 100 per cent of the adult population fits the profile, and Windsor and Maidenhead. Richmond has the most indulgents in London - nearly a third of people there drink more wine than the average.
Other areas with the high number of indulgents are, in order: Harrow, Kingston, Barnet, Bromley, Merton, Croydon, Sutton, City of London and Kensington and Chelsea.
CASE STUDIES
Lynn Poole, 35, a mother-of-two and company director from Northants
Drinks two glasses of wine a week
Does not smoke
Eats out twice a month
Does pilates regularly
"We're not big drinkers at home - it's only when I go out with the girls. I make juices for breakfast and lunch and I've always been quite health-conscious."
Katie Anthony, 28, a motorsport hospitality co-ordinator from Clapham
Drinks a dozen glasses of wine a week
Does not smoke
Eats out once a week
Gym twice a week
"We encourage each other in the office to eat healthily but at weekends we might indulge a bit more. We work abroad a lot which involves trying restaurants for our clients. I don't believe we are doing longterm damage. We are not bingers."
Lucy Anthony, 27, a motorsport hospitality co-ordinator from Clapham
Drinks 20-25 units a week - mostly champagne, vodka and Jagermeister
Smokes socially
Eats out once or twice a week
Gym 3 times a week
"I'm quite healthy. I do drink quite a lot but I don't binge drink like I used to at university. I eat lots of healthy food - I'm 80 per cent good and 20 per cent fried food and burgers. I don't think about possible damage but everyone knows deep down that you can't avoid the effects of drink and food on your body."
Jane Bristow, 27, a motorsport hospitality co-ordinator from Fulham
Drinks 20 units a week
Does not smoke
Eats out three times a week
Gym five times a week
"A lot of people in London eat out regularly but it doesn't have to be unhealthy. I know I am healthy and not excessive so I'm not worried."
Harry Harrison, 23, an actor from Clapham
Drinks 40 units a week, spread over Wednesday to Saturday
Eats out four times a week
Smokes 10 a day
Gym four or five times a week, plays football
"I don't eat massively unhealthy food so I don't have high cholesterol and I don't think 40 units is excessive. Like offsetting your carbon emissions, I think going to the gym offsets my smoking and drinking. The Chancellor seems to think he's solved all the country's problems by putting up tax on alcohol but even a 14-year-old child can afford 6p on a pint."
Reader views (2)
Harry, nothing off sets the damage smoking is doing to your body - you're kidding yourself. In fact, going to the gym whilst you are a smoker actually increase the damage you are doing! That's because exercising increases your lung capacity - allowing you to draw more breath, draw it in deeper into your lungs and bury the toxins even further.
- James, Los Angeles, USA.
"This Is London" should ensure that they revisit this situation in "10 years time" to see just what effect the "affluential indulgence" has had on these ladies lives. Get Lynn Poole, Katie Anthony, Lucy Anthony and Jane Bristow back on a night out in London (Chelsea Brasserie if it's still exists) and see exactly what the results are . . . A sort of "before" and "after" expose.
Will the fresh-faced Jane Bristow still be going to the gym five times a week? And what about the others? Will their habits have materially changed? Only "time" will tell!
The results could be quite fascinating!
- Fraser, Telford Park
