Latvian women drop harmful habits (smoking, excessive drinking) more often than men to keep themselves healthy and in good shape. Women are also more reluctant to say that one glass of wine is a recommended daily dose of alcohol and is not at all harmful to health. Meanwhile men more often associate a healthy lifestyle with physical activity.

When asked what they personally do to stay healthy and in good shape, women said more often than men, that they try to follow a healthy diet consisting of ecologically clean products, as well as try to have a positive and optimistic attitude towards life. Also, women, unlike men, are more careful about the state of their health (have preventive medical examinations at least once a year, follow the doctor’s instructions, etc.) and more often drop harmful habits (smoking, excessive drinking). Meanwhile, men are more often engaged in physical activities (a healthy spirit in a healthy body); however, this is the only factor of a healthy lifestyle, which is taken more seriously by men than by women, as the data of DNB Latvia barometer states.

After evaluating the data from different age groups, researchers noticed that young people up to 24 years say that they guaranty for a healthy lifestyle is a positive and optimistic attitude, but respondents 25 to 34 years old say that an important healthy lifestyle factor is balance between work and personal life: for example, spending quality time with family and friends. Respondents age 35 to 44 are more prone to dropping harmful habits than any other age group. As an important healthy lifestyle factor they mainly noted that they spend much time outside, having walks. This factor was also popular among young people – 60% of respondents up to 24 years old mentioned this factor.

Respondents were also asked to say whether or not they agree to different popular sayings and stereotypes about following a healthy lifestyle. Women noted that in order to preserve a «slim-line» it is advised not to eat after six in the evening more often than men (men -38%; women – 59%); women also noted more often than men, that in order to have a good attitude for the rest of the day it is advised to sleep for eight hours per day (men – 65%; women – 73%); a person needs to drink 1.5-2 litres of water per day (men – 60%; women – 59%). Women mentioned somewhat rarer than men that one glass of red wine is a recommended daily dose of alcohol and is not at all harmful to health.

Ref: 102.109.109.2250