This research is the first of its kind to unravel the causation of how happiness, the consumption of fruit and vegetables and exercising are related, rather than generalising a correlation.
A new study has found that fruit and vegetable consumption and
exercise can increase levels of happiness. The findings of the study were
published in the 'Journal of Happiness Studies.'
While the link
between lifestyle and wellbeing has been previously documented and often used
in public health campaigns to encourage healthier diets and exercise, new
findings showed that there is also a positive causation from lifestyle to life
satisfaction.
This research is the first of its kind to unravel the causation of how
happiness, the consumption of fruit and vegetables and exercising are related,
rather than generalising a correlation.
The researchers,
Dr Adelina Gschwandtner (University of Kent's School of Economics), Dr Sarah
Jewell and Professor Uma Kambhampati (both from the University of Reading's
School of Economics), used an instrumental variable approach to filter out any
effect from happiness to lifestyle. It showed that it is rather the consumption
of fruit and vegetables and exercising that makes people happy and not the
other way round.
Findings
demonstrate that the ability of individuals to delay gratification and apply
self-control plays a major role in influencing lifestyle decisions, which in
turn has a positive impact on wellbeing.
The research also
shows that men appear to exercise more, and women eat more fruit and
vegetables.
With it being well known that lifestyle diseases are a leading
cause of ill health and mortality worldwide, and the UK having one of the
highest obesity rates in Europe, these findings could have significant
implications for public health policy.
Dr Gschwandtner
said, "Behavioural nudges that help the planning self to reinforce
long-term objectives are likely to be especially helpful in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. If a
better lifestyle not only makes us healthier but also happier, then it is a
clear win-win situation."
Professor
Kambhampati said, "There has been a bigger shift in recent years for
healthier lifestyle choices. To establish that eating more fruit and vegetables
and exercising can increase happiness as well as offer health benefits is a
major development. This may also prove useful for policy campaigns around
environment and sustainability."