The health of the middle classes hit the most by austerity measures

Broke Britain is hitting the health of the middle classes the most, with research finding the economic climate was making people unhealthier.

According to findings by UK GPs, abortions, irritable bowel syndrome, anxiety and alcohol abuse has increased.

GPs said they believed an increase in putting off starting a family and the rate of abortions could be attributed to financial insecurity.

Research Manager at Insight Research Group, who led the research, Richard Kunzmann said: “The GPs we surveyed felt that worries over financial security coupled with many people working longer hours have raised our stress levels. This has not
only led to an increase in various mental health disorders but has also influenced other aspects of our life and well-being – from family planning through to levels of exercise.

“The middle class has been especially affected by the turbulence of the economic recession – amongst all of the conditions that were investigated, GPs routinely associated the increases they’ve seen with middle Britain. But these pressures are not limited to one demographic either – married women and single women were both as likely to request a termination due to financial concerns.”