Almost Half Of Britons Don't Walk Enough

Survey finds a 'pandemic of inactivity' among Brits as 43 per cent say they only walk 2 hours a week or less

Britain is a nation of couch potatoes - and it's causing a 'pandemic of inactivity' according to a new survey.

A study of 2,000 adults to mark the start of Get Walking Week by The Ramblers, the country's walking charity, found 43 per cent of us only walk for two hours or less a week and a staggering 25 per cent only walk for nine minutes a day - including time spent getting to work or shops.

However it seems we are well-intentioned, as 93 per cent said they felt walking was a good form of exercise.

The Ramblers have now launched a campaign to get more adults going for regular strolls.

Chief executive Benedict Southworth said: 'We want people all over Britain to join the walking revolution and take their first steps towards a healthier and happier lifestyle.

'Find a short walk with your local Walking for Health scheme or Ramblers group during Get Walking Week and join us as we get Britain moving.'

Medical experts say walking could cause life expectancies to fail, as well as a host of health problems. William Bird, a GP who specialises in the benefits of exercise, said: 'We're going to find this generation will die earlier than their parents if they don't start doing basic movement.

'We all age quicker when we're not moving and the consequences of that are age-related diseases, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer.

'A lot of doctors know very little at all about the importance of physical activity and it's at the bottom of their list, but if you got everyone walking it would have a massive effect on the health of the country', he added.

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