Forget chocolate and roses - take a jog around the block to ensure Valentine's Day romance

* One in three adults admit their love life suffers if they are feeling overweight (35%)
* Nearly half (45%) of 35-44 year olds say their love life suffers if they are feeling overweight
* Nearly one in three adults say they get moody if they don't get regular exercise (31%)
* Four in ten 25-34 year olds say they get moody if they don't get regular exercise (39%)
* One in five 55-64 year olds get moody if they don't get regular exercise (20%)

As new research shows that one in three of us admit to an ailing love life if we feel overweight, leading private medical insurer Standard Life Healthcare says save your money on chocolate and roses and go for a free run around the block to boost your mood and your love life. And, with nearly one in three adults saying they get moody without regular exercise, running shoes might be a better bet than a romantic breakfast in bed.

The results show that stressed out 25-34 year olds should beware, as four in ten admit to getting down in the dumps without regular exercise.  Perhaps surprisingly, the Victor Meldrew generation (55-64 age group) is least likely to get grumpy!

The good news is there is lots we can do about it. 'The key is recognising there may be a problem and then obtaining the right information that can help solve it and make you feel better,' said Standard Life Healthcare spokeswoman Mandy Blanks. 'For many people, being unhappy with their stamina levels might be an issue, or it may be simply the constant pains and niggles that come with being unfit that are bringing them down. Good exercise and eating well can really boost energy levels and put a twinkle back in even the most tired of eyes. But good health information can be hidden beneath layers of fad diets, especially if people are surfing the net for it. Always get medically validated diet and exercise advice if you intend to energise your life,' she advised.

Top lifestyle coach Lynette Allen said: 'For many people, feeling down on Valentine's Day may be because they lack someone to share it with or they simply dislike the hype surrounding the day. But I have found in my work, and this survey confirms, that it is often underlying health and lifestyle factors that can make people feel unhappy - and these feelings often come to the fore on the days where you are under pressure to perform. Disliking your body image or fitness can cause low self esteem which then manifests itself in bad moods - something you do not want on the big day! Eating well and taking regular exercise can really help put the zing back into your own life and relationships. And it does not need to be done all at once. Setting small attainable targets is a good way to see quick successes and that's what motivates you to keep going.'

Standard Life Healthcare conducted the research as part of its annual Attitudes to Healthcare survey. The company offers its medical insurance customers online access to medically approved health and wellbeing advice, which comes with reminders and updates to help keep people on track. For added peace of mind people can arrange to speak by telephone to a GP 24 hours a day, any day of the year. More information on the survey, and health and wellbeing products and services, is available at
www.standardlifehealthcare.co.uk.


Notes 

 *The survey was conducted by TNS via PhoneBus, a telephone Omnibus survey. A representative sample of 1006 GB adults aged 16 plus was interviewed. Interviewing was conducted by CATI from 20-22 October 2006.

(10/2/07)