More hugs please!

Brits are missing out on 2,808 hugs each every year and it could be damaging our health a new report reveals today. That’s 54 per week per person! In order to stay healthy we all know we should be eating five portions of fruit and veg a day, but we need eight portions of hugging a day too according to experts!

65% of people in the UK are losing their soft touch by admitting to steering clear of hugging, representing 368 million hugs a day that aren’t being given or received. 10% of Brits never hug loved ones, 55% only give around two a week and only 17% are really big softies admitting they love hugging! This means that the average Brit is only getting 3% of the hugs that experts say is healthy and good for you, reveals the findings in a study commissioned by Andrex.™

The benefits of a good hug are medically proven by the release of a ‘feel good’ hormone ‘Oxytocin’ when giving and receiving a cuddle. Experts say that we should be getting around eight hugs a day to maintain a feeling of happiness and well-being.

Maylis Galeano, Andrex™ Consumer Care Manager says: ‘We at Andrex™ think it’s time for Britain to show their softer side much more. There’s nothing wrong with showing affection and hugging your loved ones, especially if there are health benefits too!’

Osho, an Indian mystic and author summarises the theory perfectly saying: “Analysis is the way of the mind, hugging is the way of the heart. The mind is the cause of all diseases, and the heart is the source of all healing.” *

*Source: The Wild Geese and the Water #4, 1981.

The survey by Andrex™ was conducted to mark the launch of the ‘Hello Softie’™ packs which is now in-store.

About Kimberly-Clark:

Kimberly-Clark and its well-known global brands are an indispensable part of life for people in more than 150 countries. Every day, 1.3 billion people–nearly a quarter of the world’s population–trust K-C’s brands and the solutions they provide to enhance their health, hygiene and well being. With brands such as Kleenex^®, Andrex^®, Scottex^®, Huggies^®, Pull-Ups^®, Kotex^® and Poise^® now changing its name to Depend^®. Kimberly-Clark holds the No. 1 or No. 2 share position in more than 80 countries. To keep up with the latest K-C news and to learn more about the company’s 132-year history of innovation, visit www.kimberly-clark.com.

® Registered trademark of Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. or its affiliates

About Andrex™®

· 1 in 10 households own an Andrex® cuddly toy

· Since the first puppy advert in 1972, there have been over 120 ads starring the Andrex® Puppy

· 24 rolls of Andrex® are being sold every second, making Andrex a £335 million brand

· Andrex® ranks 8^th in the Top 100 UK Grocery Brands, making it the number one non-food brand in the UK

· Andrex® has a 33.3% value share of the total market by value (source: A C Nielsen, February 2008)

· Andrex® is the nation’s favourite brand of toilet tissue – a position it has held for over 40 years

· For further information, please go to www.andrex.co.uk

· ® Registered trademark of Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. or its affiliates