Sheffield residents most likely in the UK to try wellness advice seen online
Sheffield residents are more likely than anyone else in the UK to try health or wellness advice they’ve seen on social media, according to new research from Platinum Spas Hot Tubs.
A survey of 1,000 UK adults found that 38% of people in Sheffield have tried a wellness tip, product or piece of advice after seeing it online - significantly higher than the national average of 27%. The figure also puts Sheffield ahead of other major cities including Belfast and Manchester.
The findings suggest social platforms are playing an increasingly influential role in shaping how people in the city approach their health, from fitness routines and diet advice to supplements and lifestyle trends.
However, the research also raises questions about how carefully this information is being assessed before it’s acted on. Nationally, more than half of UK adults (51%) - thats equivalent to around 28 million people - admit they don’t spend any time vetting wellness advice or checking the credentials of experts before making changes.
In Sheffield, the picture is similar, with 42% of residents saying they don’t spend any time at all verifying wellness information before acting on it.
Where do people in Sheffield get their health information from?
The Sheffield findings come amid growing concern about the spread of unverified wellness advice online, particularly on platforms such as TikTok and Instagram, where trends can go viral before being properly scrutinised.
Here’s where residents of Sheffield are most likely to get their health information from:
- NHS/GP/Official Sources - 23%
- ChatGPT - 19%
- Instagram - 15%
- YouTube - 15%
- Friends & family - 15%
- Health magazines - 15%
- Fitness apps - 15%
- TikTok - 12%
- Celebrities/influencers - 8%
The data also shows Sheffield residents are among the most likely in the UK to use ChatGPT for health and wellness information, just four percentage points behind offical health sources like a GP or the NHS website.
The research forms part of Platinum Spas Hot Tubs’ wider 2026 Wellness Report, which explores how people across the UK are changing their attitudes to health, wellbeing and lifestyle habits in the year ahead.