David Seaman, who has children, is backing the research programme, called the Flora Family Healthy Heart Index. He comments: "It''s never too early to start looking after your heart health and there are lots of simple diet and lifestyle steps you can take. We are bombarded with health messages all the time, so the Flora Family Healthy Heart Index aims to discover what we know and what we currently do and don't do to maintain our own heart health and that of our families."
Flora is looking for families of three generations or more to take part in the University of Bristol research programme. This aims to help healthcare professionals understand how people are currently behaving so they are better informed to help them maintain a healthy heart for generations to come. The participating families need to be willing to complete three questionnaires over the course of the next 12 months about their current diet and lifestyle. They can register their interest by logging onto www.keepthebeat.org.uk, where they will also be automatically entered into a prize draw to win two adult and two children's Raleigh bikes.
Dr Anne Haase, from the Department of Exercise and Health Sciences at the University of Bristol, explains: "We have an academic focus on the promotion of healthy lifestyles through nutrition and physical activity. As we have an established national and international reputation for research in this area, we were keen to conduct this project with the support of Flora.
"The Flora Family Healthy Heart Index will look at what everyday people actually know and understand about the steps they can take to maintain a healthy heart. We will also be looking at how people are currently behaving in terms of lifestyle (diet and physical activity) and what behaviour is being passed down through the generations."
Michael Livingston, Director of Heart UK, one of the UK's leading heart charities, adds: "We're delighted to be backing such a significant piece of research because heart health is a vitally important issue. We welcome the research programme being conducted by the University of Bristol and Flora because it is crucial we find ways to help people maintain and improve their heart health, as well as help reduce the financial burden heart health issues place on the NHS."