PEOPLE in Yorkshire are more likely to splash out on the wellbeing of their pets, cars and boilers than protecting their own health, according to York-based health and wellbeing specialist Benenden.

In Yorkshire 75.26 per cent of pet owners have taken their pet to the vet in the last year and 50.52 per cent of pet owners have pet insurance.

Some 88.1 per cent of car owners get their car serviced once a year costing on average £173.89 and 32.16 per cent spend an average of £87.23 per year getting their boiler checked.

However, Benenden said, 90.64 per cent have never paid for a health check and 47.95 per cent refuse to spend any money on their health at all.

Jon Craven, Managing Director of Benenden Wellbeing said: “It’s worrying to see that health is so low down as a priority for people in Yorkshire– with men and women more motivated to spend money on safeguarding the wellbeing of their pets health than their own.

“Whilst we spend £100s on servicing our cars – on top of the mandatory yearly MOT – to keep them running smoothly, most of us are simply not prepared to do the same for our bodies, with many people rarely, if ever, visiting their GP. It seems that our health is taking a back seat for many of us which could have worrying longer-term consequences.”