Cost is considered a major barrier in the pursuit of health and fitness, according to recent research by Irish Health Life.
More than half of respondents (53 per cent ) to the research said staying fit is “expensive”.
The findings come as Irish Life Health launches its new BeneFit plans, which offer its members the opportunity to claim back on a wide range of health and wellness benefits, including sports club/gym membership/children’s fitness classes, dieticians and nutritionists, fitness wearables, and life coach consultations.
Each family member on the BeneFit Plan is entitled to claim back up to €250 on these wellness benefits. For example, a family of four can claim €250 per person on a combination of the approved wellness benefits on the plan.
Jim Dowdall, managing director of Irish Life Health, said: “We are always looking for new ways to help people take steps to be healthy, and so we are delighted to launch these innovative new plans that support people to proactively manage their health. Comprehensive hospital cover is of course a given with these plans, but we are delighted to offer our customers additional ways to embrace their health and wellbeing.”
The research also examined how parents in Ireland are working to incorporate fitness into family life, with a large majority (84 per cent ) saying they make it a priority to keep children fit and healthy all year round. However, with the colder months approaching, two thirds of parents say they struggle to get their family outside and active in winter.
The research showed that only 24 per cent of those surveyed believe wellness is a combination of physical fitness, mental wellbeing and nutrition - so as a nation, we are still on a journey to viewing health in a more holistic way.
More information on the new BeneFit plans is available on www.irishlifehealth.ie
