55% of people say their health has worsened due to cost of living crisis
A survey shows rising prices have made it harder to maintain health
Last updated 29th May 2022
More than half of people in the UK say they have worse health due to the rising cost of living.
Soaring prices have made it difficult for people to maintain their health, a survey suggests.
People with pre-existing health conditions and “poorer people” are said to be the most badly affected.
55% felt their health had got worse due to soaring prices
A YouGov poll of 2,001 people commissioned by the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) found 55% felt their health had got worse owing to issues such as high heating costs and soaring food bills.
One in four of these people have been told this is the case by a doctor or other medical professional, with stress seen as a driving factor of ill-health.
Of all those who reported their health getting worse, 84% said it was due to increased heating costs, 78% cited the rising cost of food and almost half (46%) said transport costs had had an impact.
Some 37% of those in higher income brackets (ABC1) said the cost-of-living crisis had had a fairly negative impact on their health, while 16% said it had had a very negative impact.
Of those in lower socio-economic groups, 37% said it had had a fairly negative impact and 22% said it had had a very negative impact.
Harder to manage pre existing health conditions
Members of the Royal College of Physicians have spoke about how people are suffering, with one saying a woman's ulcers on her fingertips were made worse by her house being cold.
Another patient could not afford to travel to hospital for lung cancer investigation and treatment while medics also reported people's asthma and other lung conditions were being made worse by exposure to mould in poor quality council housing.
Health of poorer people being badly affected
Professor Sir Michael Marmot, director of the University College London Institute of Health Equity, said: "This survey demonstrates that the cost-of-living crisis is damaging the perceived health and wellbeing of poorer people.
The Inequalities in Health Alliance (IHA), a group of more than 200 organisations convened by the RCP, is calling for a cross-Government strategy to reduce health inequalities.
It says this must look at poor housing, food quality, communities, employment, racism and discrimination, transport and air pollution.
"The surprise is that people in above average income groups are affected, too.
"In my recommendations for how to reduce health inequalities, sufficient income for a healthy life was one among six.
"But it is crucial as it relates so strongly to many of the others, in particular early child development, housing and health behaviours.
"As these figures show, the cost-of-living crisis is a potent cause of stress. If we require anything of government, at a minimum, it is to enable people to have the means to pursue a healthy life."
Dr Andrew Goddard, president of the Royal College of Physicians, said: "The cost-of-living crisis has barely begun, so the fact that one in two people is already experiencing worsening health should sound alarm bells, especially at a time when our health service is under more pressure than ever before.
"The health disparities white paper due later this year must lay out plans for a concerted effort from the whole of government to reduce health inequality.
"We can't continue to see health inequality as an issue for health directives to solve. A cross-government approach to tackling the underlying causes of ill health will improve lives, protect the NHS and strengthen the economy."
Cost of living crisis:
Interest rates and inflation go up
Inflation rose by 8.8% in the 12 months to January 2023, down from 9.2% in December 2022. With interest rates also rising to 4%, those saving money will earn more interest on their finances, whilst those paying mortgages would pay more interest to the bank.
Energy bills
The price of energy went up incredibly as the cost of living crisis hit, with the gas price spike caused largely by the war in Ukraine. The price cap - which is set by an independent regulator to help offset costs onto customers - was set to rise to £3,549 for an average home in October but a price freeze from the government restricted the typical bill to £2,500. That's still an increase of 27% from the previous energy cap and as it's a cap on unit cost, the more energy you use the higher your bill will be.
Food prices
The cost of a weekly shop also has gone up as a result of the cost of living crisis. As a result of the war in Ukraine, a number of products including cooking oils and wheat have been disrupted. This means that several products are now considerably more expensive, driving bills up for customers.
Prices at the pumps
The average cost of petrol has also rose to unprecedented levels. Supply lines for petrol have been thrown into doubt as a result of the war in Ukraine, as Russia is a large export partner for gas, oil and fuel. In April 2022, the average price for a litre of petrol on the forecourt was 160.2p, whilst a litre of diesel would cost 170.5p. By late June 2022 the price had risen to an average of 190.9p for a litre of unleaded and 198.9p for a litre of diesel. In March 2023 the price wass on average of 147.03 in petrol and 167.04 in diesel.
Average cost of filling up a car with petrol hits £100
On 9th June 2022, the average cost of filling up a car with petrol hit £100 for the first time ever. Diesel had already hit that milestone. It comes as the cost of fuel hit a record high of one pound eighty a litre. The 2p rise was the biggest daily jump in 17 years. Prices have dropped by at least 20p per litre since the high point.