How unhealthy is YOUR life? Brutal NHS test ranks you on a scale of 1 to 10
The month of healthier choices is coming to an end.
Whether you skipped animal products for Veganuary or ditched the booze for Dry January, are you going to carry these habits into next month?
Well, a test from the NHS can help you figure out what changes you need to make permanently, albeit brutally.
The How are you? health quiz scores you out of 10 based on your well-being, fitness and diet – don’t expect it to be easy for you.
Whether you skipped animal products for Veganuary or ditched the booze for Dry January, are you going to carry these habits into next month? Well, a test from the NHS can help you figure out what changes you need to make permanently, albeit brutally
The How are you? health quiz scores you out of 10 based on your well-being, fitness and diet – don’t expect it to be easy for you
An example of some of the advice given to respondents choosing some of the unhealthiest options
The quiz, which promises to “point you in the right direction,” begins by asking how you’re feeling right now.
You’ll be faced with six sliding scales, such as from “really knackered” to “full of beans,” which you must move to where it best fits your current mood or energy level.
Other scales measure how well you sleep, how fit you are at the moment and how much stress you are under.
The quiz also asks what keeps you from taking care of yourself health-wise, such as not have enough money or time.
The next question is about who depends on your health, such as children, grandchildren, or pets.
We all have reasons sometimes excuses why we can’t take better care of ourselves so the quiz will then ask what’s stopping you from doing that with answers ranging from not having enough money or time to having to prioritize taking care of others
The quiz, found on the NHS website, then asks about your top three health priorities, with options such as fitting into your jeans, having more energy or keeping your mind sharp.
At this point, you will receive advice based on your general well-being, such as how to boost your energy levels and find time for self-care.
In the dining area you will be asked what choice you would make regarding drinks, potatoes, cereals, cheese and meat.
You must choose between options such as sugary drinks or water, or boiled or roasted potatoes.
And you also have to keep track of how many servings of fruit and vegetables you eat on average per day.
The last part of this section focuses on snacking and asks you to select all the snacks you would eat on a normal day, such as chips, chocolate, or cake.
Do you opt for a sugary drink or water? And would you rather boil your potatoes than fry them?
Your food choices will then be criticized or praised and you will receive advice on how to make better choices with your food to stay healthy.
The quiz then moves to the ‘stronger stuff’ and asks how often you drink booze, and how much.
You will be asked to count how many pints, half pints, single shots of liquor or glasses of wine you would drink on a typical weekday and a typical weekend day.
Again, depending on your answers, you will be advised whether your intake is dangerous, how to drink sensibly and responsibly, or congratulations on your lack thereof.
For part four, you will be asked to record how many minutes per day you do physical activity, such as brisk walking or cycling, and strength training, such as yoga or weights.
The last part of the quiz asks if and how much you smoke.
At the end of the quiz you get, rather ruthlessly, a score of 10.
Finally, you’ll get some recommendations on areas where you could be healthier and how to get there, such as exercise tips, suggesting booze-free days, and trying healthy eating recipes.
The test does not ask about BMI.