Modern living is taking its toll on Brits, with problems from the pace of 21st century life rivalling the traditional evils of smoking, drinking and poor diet in the health stakes, a new survey reveals.

Although stopping smoking, taking exercise and eating a balanced diet can all have a positive effect on people's health – as recent government guidance states – the latest findings from Legal & General suggest that there are other health enemies that are less obvious.

In our increasingly hectic lives, lack of sleep is said to be of great concern for 42 per cent of people, general fatigue harms the health of 34 per cent and the stress of everyday living affects 27 per cent.

The insurance firm's Health Uncovered Index took answers from a representative sample of 5,000 people across the UK to find out which aspects of modern living were most adversely affecting their lives.

Chris Rolland, Legal & General's director of healthcare said: "Far from echoing the government's views on health, these findings show that the public's concerns are different.

"It's becoming clear that people are far more worried about the way we live our lives, the lack of sleep and stress than smoking and drinking. There are few things more important in life than our health; so it is vital that people look at the causes of a poor lifestyle to ensure their health is not compromised and hopefully prevent burn-out."

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