Shaping up and Saving Cash are Top New Year Resolutions

LONDON, December 29 - Millions of Britons will give up New Year resolutions within just seven
days, new Nicotinell research has revealed.

28 million adults will pledge to be fitter, thinner, healthier and
wealthier as they enter a new decade.

But up to seven million weak-willed people will have given up their
resolutions in a week. And those promising to give up chocolate are most
likely to succumb to their favourite treat in only 48 hours.

Research by quit smoking aid Nicotinell found that shaping up and saving
cash are the top New Year resolutions for the new decade.

The credit crunch has made many Britons more money conscious than at any
time in the last 50 years and so saving money will be a priority for millions
of families in 2010 - as a New Year resolution it has moved up from fourth
place last year to second position now.

The poll of 2,000 people named quitting smoking as the most difficult
resolution to keep, with more than half of cigarette users saying last year's
promise to quit was "too hard." Nearly one in three smokers break their
resolution in less than 48 hours.

Nicotinell has created a New Year's resolution barometer to test the
nation's resolve as Britain enters a new decade.

Nina Grunfeld, a leading life coach and founder of Life Clubs, said:
"Only six in ten people actually commit to changing something on January 1st
and those who do make resolutions don't often stick to them.

"Saving money is second on the list of top resolutions, with 22% of us
wanting to put more money in the bank this year as opposed to 8% last year.

"And staying in contact with family and friends has also risen, from 3%
to 9%. It seems we're looking for security."

According to Nicotinell's barometer, New Year resolutions get broken as
fast as they get made, with one in ten people admitting to keeping their
promise for less than two days and less than one in three (28%) will stick to
their resolution for the entire year.

The Scots are most likely of any region to go on a diet in the New Year,
however many will break their pledge within a fortnight.

People in the north-east and London are most likely to pledge to get in
shape in 2010, but many will fail in a month.

Those in the south-east and East Anglia will be looking to save more
money next year, although they are predicted to lose their commitment in just
a week.

Those in the West Midlands - where most will promise to get in shape in
2010 - will keep their resolutions for up to six months, the longest of any
region.

A spokesperson for Nicotinell said: "As you would expect, the New Year is
a perfect time to try and quit smoking and we see a significant increase in
sales this time of year.

"It's been a difficult year for many people with the recession and
perhaps smokers see cigarettes as one of their few remaining pleasures.

"The irony is that if they did succeed in giving up they could save more
than GBP2,000 a year which might help overcome some money worries."

    Top 10 New Year's Resolutions
    1 Get into shape / go to the gym more-28%
    2 Save money - 22%
    3 Go on a diet - 20%
    4 Give up smoking - 16%
    5 Assess work/life balance - 8%
    5 Learn a new skill - 8%
    7 Be kinder to myself - 7%
    8 Give up/ cut alcohol intake - 6%
    9 Give up / eat less chocolate - 5%
    10 Clear wardrobe on eBay - 4%

    Most Broken New Year's Resolutions
    1 Give up smoking
    2 Get into shape / go to the gym more
    3 Clear wardrobe on eBay
    4 Be kinder to myself
    5 To go on a diet / Give up or eat less chocolate
    6 Learn a new skill
    7 To give something back to the community
    8 Give up or cut alcohol intake / Join or maintain my
      Twitter/Facebook/Blog
    9 Assess work/life balance
    10 Save money

Notes to Editors

All statistics quoted are from the Nicotinell(R) New Year's
Resolutions Barometer research carried out by Redshift, with 2000
respondents, December 2009.

Nicotinell(R) products contain nicotine. Always read the label. Stop
Smoking Aid. Requires willpower

A picture accompanying this release is available through the PA
Photowire. It can be downloaded from www.pa-mediapoint.press.net or
viewed at www.mediapoint.press.net or www.prnewswire.co.uk.

Contact Novartis Consumer Health Press Office on: +44-(0)20-7878-3133 / +44-(0)7739-365205 or novartisconsumerhealth at mslpr.co.uk