WHY HEALTH CONDITIONS SHOULDN’T BE BARRIERS TO LOVE
### Strictly Embargoed Until 00:01 on 04/02/2022 ### *** FREE FOR EDITORIAL USE *** Shelly and Oliver Ward try the foods available in the new ‘Mood Food’ aisle at Iceland, which has been launched ahead of Valentine’s Day and features the top ten foods that have been voted by Brits most likely to get them in the mood for love, which include ice cream, pizza and roast dinner. The aisle has been created following research by Iceland, which revealed that 6 in 10 people find traditional aphrodisiacs such as oysters are in fact a turn off for them, with 8 in 10 saying that comfort foods are more likely to affect their romantic feelings.
Dating is challenging enough, but for those living with chronic illnesses or health conditions, it can often be complicated by stigma and misunderstanding. New research from Abbott highlights this issue: nearly 28% of people would hesitate to date someone with a chronic condition, and 18% know someone who’s been rejected for the same reason. This can leave individuals feeling defined by their health rather than seen as people with unique qualities, interests, and ambitions.
Privacy concerns also play a significant role. Many avoid sharing health details on dating profiles (29%) or social media (47%), with 66% and 79% respectively saying it’s “no one’s business.”. Understandably, people want to be seen for more than their health status, but they often fear being misunderstood. These concerns aren’t unfounded—10% report that partners have minimised their health issues, and 7% have faced outright refusals from partners to make even small adjustments1.
To support the initial research, Abbott put this bias to the test through a unique social experiment to observe the UK’s dating community. Participants were asked to use a fictitious dating app to explore how people responded to a potential partner disclosing a condition like diabetes. The results suggested a bias does exist within the heterosexual dating community: 26% of men were less likely to consider a woman desirable when her profile mentioned diabetes, and men were 12% less likely to choose to match with a woman referencing diabetes in her profile.
For individuals living with diabetes seeking genuine connections, it seems there are fears around judgment, with research suggesting 41% wait before disclosing a health condition to a new partner, and 20% have held back from sharing details altogether.
More than one in ten (13%) have also shared that they’ve had relationships end due to their health condition, with some experiencing mistreatment, from ghosting to avoidance of intimacy and even derogatory comments.
Anna Richardson, TV presenter of Naked Attraction, has been a prominent advocate for inclusivity in dating. Through her work, she’s helped people of all shapes, sizes, and backgrounds, including those with health conditions, find love. Anna champions the idea that everyone deserves love and respect, regardless of appearance or health status. She encourages people to share their stories as part of this campaign, showing that uniqueness and authenticity are to be celebrated, not hidden.
While sharing details about health conditions can feel daunting, openness can drive real change. On 14th November – World Diabetes Day, Anna Richardson wants to encourage people with health conditions to share their experiences of discrimidating. By coming together, openly and proudly, we can help break down the stereotypes that continue to surround dating with health conditions, showing that these experiences are part of who they are and do not limit their ability to find love.
This campaign is a chance for individuals to embrace their health journey, showing that health conditions are part of life and shape who they are. Living with a condition requires resilience, and sharing these experiences publicly can help counter the judgment too often faced. By standing together, those with health challenges can proudly say, “This is who I am,” reminding the world that love, respect, and acceptance should never be limited by a diagnosis.
ANNA RICHARDSON & DIABETES
Anna Richardson’s journey with diabetes awareness has been deeply shaped by personal and professional experiences. Her connection to the topic starts at home, as her father, Canon Jim Richardson, lives with both diabetes and vascular dementia. This has led Anna to speak openly about the challenges associated with managing diabetes, particularly in later life. In her documentary Anna Richardson: Love, Loss & Dementia, she shares her father’s story, attributing aspects of his dementia to lifestyle factors often linked to diabetes, such as stress, lack of exercise, and diet. Through this personal connection, Anna has become a strong advocate for awareness of diabetes and its health impacts, especially as they relate to broader health issues like cognitive decline.
Beyond her personal connection, Anna has professionally delved into the science and social implications of diabetes-related medications. In her Channel 4 documentary on the “slimming jab” phenomenon, she investigates medications such as Semaglutide (marketed as Wegovy for weight loss and Ozempic for type 2 diabetes) and Liraglutide (Victoza for diabetes, Saxenda for weight loss), originally designed to treat diabetes but now widely used for obesity management. Anna’s approach in the documentary is investigative, seeking to understand whether the drugs genuinely represent a breakthrough in obesity treatment or pose unconsidered risks, especially as they grow popular in celebrity culture and social media.
In her podcast, Health Fact vs Fiction, Anna further engages with diabetes education, shedding light on its prevalence in the UK and exploring its risk factors and preventive measures. Her conversations with medical professionals aim to demystify diabetes, making her a significant media voice for diabetes-related issues.
