A study by Forbes Advisor has claimed that German consumers have the worst diet in Europe, consuming the second-highest amount of fat and drinking the third-highest amount of alcohol out of 27 countries studied.
In second place is Turkey, where just 2.8% of the population consume five or more portions of fruit and vegetables a day, while Austria, where population consumes over 100 grams more than the recommended amount of fat a day, places third.
Poland and Ireland round off the top five, with the two countries consuming the second highest amount of sugar and having the highest calorie intake respectively, the study found.
Health and diet
“The link between diet and health is well-established, so it is fascinating to see how different countries shape up when it comes to food and alcohol consumption,” commented Laura Howard, life insurance expert at Forbes Advisor.
“In addition to the impact on health and physical wellbeing, we should also remember that what we eat and drink can ultimately affect how much we pay for life insurance. Premiums will go up for someone who is judged to be overweight or who drinks more than the recommended weekly amount, simply because of the increased risk of disease and death.”
In terms of alcohol consumption, the two highest ranked countries are Czechia and Luxembourg, while Turkey is the country in which a healthy diet is the least affordable.
The UK performs surprisingly well in the rankings, placing 20th overall – according to Forbes Advisor, the UK has the eighth healthiest diet overall, as well as having the third-highest proportion of the population eating five or more portions of fruit and vegetables a day.
Long-term finances
“Eating wisely and drinking in moderation can help improve overall health – and it might also have a beneficial impact on your long-term finances,” Howard added.
The countries were ranked according to several dietary factors such as excesses in calorie intake, fat and sugar consumption, as well as the number of fruit and vegetables eaten a day and more. Data was collected between 9 and 13 October.
