45% only proactive with their health when it goes wrong 

Thursday 9 April 2026

• The UK’s leading health and wellness retailer launches new report with Ipsos to explore how the nation approaches health and wellbeing.  
• Data shows that 45% of people are only proactive with their health when something goes wrong, with Holland & Barrett pointing to accessibility as a key barrier to taking action.  
• Holland & Barrett says the high street has a ‘vital role to play’ in supporting the wider health system and bringing accessible healthcare to the community.  

Holland & Barrett, the UK’s leading health and wellness retailer, has today launched a new report exploring key health behaviours, challenges and attitudes shaping how consumers across the UK approach their health and wellbeing.  

The report, titled ‘From Reactive Repair to Proactive Maintenance: The State of the Nation's Health 2026’, was commissioned by Holland & Barrett and conducted by Ipsos. Over 5,000 UK adults aged 16-75 were surveyed to examine where they felt confident taking action when it comes to their own health and wellbeing, and where gaps remain.  

The study revealed that:  

• 74% agree that establishing good health and wellbeing habits now is key to preventing illness in the future.  
• However, 45% are only proactive with their health when something goes wrong, despite 59% planning to focus more on their health and wellbeing in the next year.
• 37% report finding it difficult to know what their body needs, highlighting gaps in clear, trusted and practical advice.  
• 78% of the public say they only go to the doctor when it is “absolutely necessary”.  
• Holland & Barrett says accessibility is a key barrier, with many unable to turn intention into action.  

As pressure on GP surgeries and A&E continues to grow, there is a clear opportunity for trusted high street brands to help people access earlier, community-based support outside traditional clinical settings and provide science-led and personalised advice to help people better understand their bodies.  

Anthony Houghton, Group CEO, said: “This latest report reveals a stark reality. Whilst the nation has an ambition to live healthier lives, they are being held back by the barriers keeping them from turning this into reality, creating a significant ‘wellness gap’ with an urgent need for health and wellness to be made more accessible and addressing the lack of clear, actionable and personalised advice.”  

Access to healthcare is also perceived as an increasingly postcode lottery. While 56% of Londoners say it is easy to access healthcare locally, the study revealed this drops to 34% in Northern Ireland and 39% in the East Midlands and South East. Nationally, just under half (45%) say access is easy, while 28% find it difficult.  

Anthony added: “The high street has a vital role to play in narrowing the gap and making health and wellness accessible for everyone. At Holland & Barrett, we’re evolving into a destination for preventative health and everyday health and wellness support. By acting as a trusted, non-clinical partner, we can provide the science-led, personalised support needed to turn complicated health data into simple, everyday actions - relieving pressure on our NHS and wider health systems and making preventative health a reality for everyone, regardless of their postcode.”  

In response to the findings, Holland & Barrett is launching its ‘Back Your Body’ commitment, supported by a new national campaign with a UK & Ireland call to action across all media channels, including a TV advert and brand campaign, to help people understand what their bodies are asking for. Through this, Holland & Barrett is committing to expanding access to wellness advice, education and support to at least 10 million people annually by 2030 through community programmes, charity partnerships, and in-store, online and digital services.  

The initiative aims to position the business as a ready-built national prevention partner, supporting the Government’s ambition to enable healthier lives. With its national store footprint and network of Wellness Champions, supported by over 500,000 hours of UK-accredited training, the retailer is well placed to help deliver proactive, personalised health advice and support at scale.  

Alongside investing £1.5m annually in health and wellness training provisions, Holland & Barrett has also invested in its stores, partnerships and in-store diagnostics as part of its broader commitment to making preventative health accessible to everyone:  

• Introducing 15-minute Wellness Check-Ins covering sleep, energy, stress, gut health and immunity – specifically aimed at consumers under 40 who are not eligible for the 40+ Health Check provided by the NHS.  
• Launching free 1-2-1 consultations and expanded access to diagnostics through partnerships such as Randox Health, helping to bridge the gap, support the ever-increasing burden on the nation’s healthcare systems and enable individuals to better understand their bodies and take confident action.  
• In August 2025, Holland & Barrett partnered with Co-op to introduce a new health and wellness range across 125 convenience stores, while in September 2025, it also partnered with Morrisons to launch an in-store grocery concession, making proactive health solutions more accessible and convenient for everyday customers.  

Anthony Houghton, Group CEO, concluded: ”As the UK’s leading health and wellness retailer, accessible on almost every high-street and online, we are ideally placed to help back the nation’s bodies. We are continuing to invest in our stores across the UK and Ireland enhancing our destinations for accessible wellness solutions and proactive, personalised health advice that work – from products that are rooted in science alongside 150 years of trusted expert advice, helping make health and wellness accessible for everyone.”  

The State of the Nation's Health 2026 report can be read in full here: https://www.hollandandbarrett.com/info/state-of-the-nation/