HEALTH NOTES: Meat is falling off the menu, survey suggests

Britain is slowly turning its back on meat, a survey suggests.

More than one in four people claimed to have cut it out or reduced their intake in the past five years, according to a poll of 1,000 adults. 

Half said it was in a bid to improve their health, but nearly a third cited animal rights and one in four did it to help the environment.

The survey, carried out for Bosh, a range of vegan food and cookbooks, revealed that over-55s are cutting back on meat more than younger people.

Dairy is also falling out of favour, and London is setting the trend with nearly 30 per cent switching to alternatives.

Women on the contraceptive pill may be more at risk of developing glaucoma – a leading cause of blindness.

New research shows that taking the Pill or using other hormonal birth control products, such as patches and vaginal rings, for two years or more doubles the chances of vision problems compared with using other forms of contraception.

The findings, in the latest British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, support previous studies highlighting the link, thought to be due to the way the drugs alter oestrogen levels that can help keep the retina healthy.

But researchers stressed the risks of eyesight problems are still extremely low. Scientists from the University of British Columbia found just 2,366 cases of Pill-related glaucoma out of nearly five million women – less than one per cent.

Acne can take a terrible toll on mental health as well as skin. Now the NHS has acknowledged that badly affected patients may need psychological support – as well as drugs to zap their spots.

The NHS spending watchdog NICE has issued new guidance urging GPs to refer at-risk sufferers to mental health services, such as counselling or psychiatrists, to help them cope with the anxiety, depression and, in some cases, suicidal thoughts, that acne can cause.

NICE spokesman Dr Paul Chrisp said: ‘Not everyone with acne will experience high levels of psychological distress, but it’s important that we find ways to support those who do.’

A new mobile device could help more than 200,000 people in the UK who suffer from lymphoedema – swelling of the arms or legs. 

It’s a high-tech sleeve that wraps around the affected limb, attached to a power unit that inflates it, compressing the area. 

Compression is known to help by boosting blood flow. The Dayspring sleeve system, from US firm Koya Medical, can be used on the go – allowing patients to walk the dog or go shopping. 

The gadget has been approved in the US, so the UK could soon follow suit (koyamedical.com).