The Healthcare Gap No One's Talking About: What Our Survey Revealed

The Numbers That Stopped Us in Our Tracks

3.8 out of 10.

That's the average satisfaction score people gave when asked about the lifestyle guidance they receive from their healthcare providers.

Not medical care. Not diagnosis or treatment. Just lifestyle support—the nutrition advice, the exercise recommendations, the stress management guidance that could help them actually live better.

And here's what makes that number even more striking: when we asked those same people how interested they'd be in a dedicated lifestyle platform that works alongside their medical care, they gave it 7.6 out of 10.

That's nearly double the satisfaction score. A 4-point gap between what people are getting and what they actually want.

What's Getting in the Way?

The survey revealed some telling patterns about why lifestyle support keeps falling through the cracks:

37% said their providers focus only on medications, not lifestyle interventions. The conversation starts and ends with prescriptions, leaving little room for discussing the daily habits that could make a real difference.

19% said the advice they receive is too generic—not tailored to their specific circumstances, conditions, or lives. "Eat healthier and exercise more" isn't a plan. It's a platitude.

16% pointed to time constraints. Appointments are too short for meaningful conversations about lifestyle. When you've got ten minutes with your GP, there's barely enough time to discuss your immediate concerns, let alone build a sustainable wellness strategy.

These aren't personal failings of individual healthcare providers. They're systemic issues—a healthcare model built around treating illness rather than promoting health.

People Aren't Waiting for the System to Catch Up

Perhaps the most revealing finding? 84% of respondents have already sought lifestyle support outside their regular medical care.

They're using apps. Seeing private practitioners. Turning to books and podcasts. Cobbling together their own approach because the traditional system isn't giving them what they need.

When we asked why, the answers were direct:

"Because the NHS weren't solving my problems."

"The general medical national health service cannot give adequate help for more in-depth cases."

"Medication and surgery is never enough—lifestyle is important."

"To get holistic healing, not treating the symptoms but treating the underlying cause."

These aren't people rejecting medicine. They're people who want more than medicine alone can offer. They understand that their daily choices—what they eat, how they move, how they manage stress—matter just as much as their prescriptions.

What People Actually Want

We asked respondents to rank the features they'd value most in a lifestyle support platform. The priorities were clear:

1. Personalised nutrition plans topped the list at 28%. Not generic meal guides—actual plans tailored to their health conditions, preferences, and goals.
2. Tailored exercise programmes came in at 16%. People want movement guidance that accounts for their abilities, limitations, and lives.
3. Stress and mental well-being support scored 17%, reflecting the growing understanding that mental health and physical health are inseparable.
4. Sleep improvement guidance rounded out the top priorities at 15%. The foundation of health that's too often overlooked.

Notice a pattern? People aren't asking for radical interventions. They're asking for the fundamentals—delivered in a way that actually fits their lives.

The Trust Factor

Interestingly, when we asked what would build trust in a lifestyle platform, the answers weren't about flashy features or celebrity endorsements:

30% want personalisation based on their actual health data. Generic doesn't cut it.

23% want to know that healthcare professionals were involved in developing the platform. Clinical credibility matters.

21% want evidence-based recommendations. They're not looking for fads—they want approaches grounded in science.

People are ready for something better. But they're also discerning. They've been let down before, and they're not going to invest their time and trust in something that feels like another wellness gimmick.

A Different Approach to Healthcare

Here's what the data tells us: people don't want to choose between medical care and lifestyle support. They want both, working together.

Healthcare that treats the whole person, not just the symptoms.

That's always been our belief at Nirva. And this survey confirms we're not alone in thinking this way.

The traditional healthcare model was built for a different era—one focused on acute illness and crisis intervention. But we're living in a time of chronic conditions, lifestyle-related disease, and people who want to take an active role in their own health.

The system hasn't caught up yet. But that doesn't mean we have to wait.

What Comes Next

We're building something at Nirva—a platform designed to bridge this gap. Personalised lifestyle support that complements your medical care. Evidence-based guidance from healthcare professionals who understand that health is about more than appointments and prescriptions.

Because 77% of our respondents are managing one or more health conditions. And 83% have already proven they're willing to seek better support when the system falls short.

The demand is there. The need is clear. The time is now.

Interested in learning more about what we're building? Follow Nirva Health for updates.

About this survey: We surveyed our clients and their networks to understand real experiences with lifestyle support in healthcare. Respondents ranged in age from 35 to 65+, with 77% managing one or more health conditions. The full analysis is available upon request.