Russians assess their state of health in a positive way; they try to keep fit and stick to healthy diet.

MOSCOW, JUNE 09, 2020. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the data of a survey devoted to health, bad and eating habits of Russians during COVID-19 lockdown.

More Russians assess the state of their health as good or satisfactory. Thirty-nine percent of respondents consider their health to be “good”: they are mainly young Russians aged 18-24 (56%), those aged 25-34 (67%) and respondents aged 35-44 (53%). Fifty-one percent of Russians say their state of health is “satisfactory”: they are mainly Russians aged 45-49 (61%).

Sixteen percent of Russians say they have had a preventive health check-up this year; 44%, over the recent three years. The percentage of those who have never had a health check-up is 21%.

The share of Russians saying they exercise or do sports is 75%. Twenty-seven percent of respondents say they do it regularly: they are mainly young Russians aged 25-34 (32%). The percentage of those who exercise and work out from time to time is 27%: they are predominantly young Russians aged 18-24 (41%). Every fifth respondent does sports or exercises very rarely (22%).

The COVID-19 lockdown has not had any impact on the bad habits of Russians. Twenty-eight percent of Russians say they smoke (vs 29% last year). Seventeen percent of Russians smoke a pack of cigarettes a day or even more. Every fifth had smoked prior to the pandemic isolation but quitted (19%). Fifty-two percent of Russians say they have never smoked.

Sixty-three percent of Russians report they drink alcohol; every fourth says he/she drinks less than once a month (24%). Sixteen percent of respondents say they drink once a month; 17%, two to three times a month.  The share of those who do not drink at all is 37% (vs 33% last year).

More than half of Russians pay attention to what they eat (60%); last year the same number of Russians said they ate healthy food (59%). Seven percent of Russians stick to the diet prescribed by the doctor; 15% have their own diet. Thirty-eight percent of Russians eat healthy food. In addition, every fifth respondent (21%) eats any kind of food and does not have any health problems; 17% report they eat only what they can afford.  

When making food choices Russians largely pay attention to price (52%). Food quality and freshness are other important factors (49% and 46% respectively). Every firth respondent pays attention to the taste (22%), health benefits (19%) or prefers eco-friendly foods (18%).

More than half of Russians do not think that tasty food cannot be healthy (60%): basically young respondents aged 18-24 (70%). Sixteen percent of respondents consider themselves foodies: they are mainly persons aged 35-44 (21%).

Russian eating habits have not changed because of isolation. Six percent say they switched to healthy food; on the contrary, 11% treat themselves to junk food more often. Eighty-two percent of Russians say their eating habits have not changed. Three percent of Russians has increased the size of portions; 19% say they have reduced it. Seventy-seven percent of Russians eat the same amount of food that they did before the lockdown. The share of those who started to eat meals more regularly is 11%; the same number of Russians says the opposite (12%). Meal regularity has remained the same for 70% of respondents. Twenty-six percent of Russians now eat home-cooked meals more frequently; nothing has changed for 70% of respondents.

More than half of Russians eat the same foods they did before isolation (64%). Every tenth respondents says he/she now eats more fruit and vegetables (11%).

Russian VCIOM-Sputnik survey was conducted on May 30, 2020. Results are based on telephone interviews with 1,600 Russians aged 18 and older. A stratified dual-frame random sample based on a complete list of Russian landline and mobile phone number was used. The data were weighted according to selection probability and social and demographic characteristics. The margin of error at a 95% confidence level does not exceed 2.5%. In addition to sampling error, minor changes in question wording and different circumstances arising during the fieldwork can introduce bias into the survey

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