Half of all adults regularly take prescription drugs including antidepressants, statins, and high blood pressure pills. One in seven adults are on statins, a tenth are taking antidepressants and one in seven are on pills to control their blood pressure.
Experts said the findings were a 'wakeup call' and blamed our high-pressured routines for making us unhealthy and miserable. The rise in prescriptions has been blamed on the ageing population and the fact that more patients are succumbing to obesity-related illnesses. But there is also concern that patients are being 'over-medicalised' and issued a prescription when they would be better off changing their lifestyles.
Many scientists believe exercise and weight loss is just as good for lowering cholesterol levels, blood pressure and even treating depression.
A quarter of adults admitted to watching four or more hours of TV on a weekday and a third aren't taking enough exercise. Some 30 per cent of men were drinking more than the recommended limit of 14 units a week, or seven pints. Another 28 per cent of men and women had high blood pressure of whom almost half were not taking any treatment. And almost a fifth of adults - 19 per cent - had a 'probable' mental health condition, up from 15 per cent in 2012.
A total of 48 per cent said they took at least one prescription drug in the last week not including contraception or nicotine patches. Another 24 per cent had taken three or more prescription medicines that week and 10 per cent were on six or more.
The most commonly-used drugs were high blood pressure pills, statins, heartburn remedies, painkillers and antidepressants. In fact 15 per cent of adults surveyed said they were taking a medication to control their blood pressure and 14 per cent were on statins. Another 10 per cent were on antidepressants and 5 per cent were on medicines for either asthma, diabetes or to prevent blood clots, following a heart attack.
The survey also found that 66 per cent of men and 57 per cent of women were overweight or obese. A total of 47 per cent of adults were trying to lose weight – regardless of their size - rising to 54 per cent of women. But 42 per cent of women and 34 per cent of men were failing to meet the NHS's recommended exercise levels of 150 minutes a week.
