Nearly two thirds of UK adults risk their health through insufficient exercise, new survey shows

Almost two thirds of UK adults could be threatening their future health because of a lack of exercise, according to a new survey by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP). 63 per cent of those questioned said they were not getting enough exercise, and could therefore be putting themselves at greater risk of life threatening illnesses like cancer, heart disease and stroke.

The warning comes as the CSP launches a new UK-wide campaign, 'Move for Health' to highlight the importance of exercise in maintaining good health and preventing illness. To encourage people to be more physically active, the CSP has produced a free, downloadable Easy Exercise Guide.

Despite overwhelming evidence that regular exercise combats obesity and decreases the chance of developing a serious illness, the CSP survey reveals many people are ignoring basic health advice.

20 per cent of those questioned exercise only once a month or less. Although 41 per cent said that they would take regular exercise if it led to a longer or healthier life, and over half (52 per cent) if it would help weight loss, the figures point to a significant gulf between what people say and do.

Supporting the CSP campaign Secretary of State for Health, Andy Burnham said: "Making just small increases in your activity levels can make a big difference to your overall long-term health.

"Active people are up to 50 per cent less likely to be at risk of major chronic disease such as coronary heart disease, stroke, diabetes and cancer. But not enough of us do the recommended 30 minutes, five days a week.

"Change4Life is helping families to eat well, move more and live longer and has called for a lifestyle revolution - The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy's 'Move for Health' campaign is set to make an important contribution to this revolution."

Bridget Hurley, chartered physiotherapist and CSP spokesperson, says:

"Most people know physical activity is good for their health but when it comes to doing it, exercise simply isn't a priority. Regular physical activity is as important as eating five portions of fruit and vegetables a day, and people need to understand that you can't keep putting it off. Without sufficient physical activity you increase your risk of life-threatening illnesses".

The CSP survey also reveals confusion about how much exercise adults think they should be doing. Just 13 per cent of people know how much exercise they need to do each day, and more than half (56 per cent) think the recommended amounts of exercise are less than they actually are.

The worryingly low levels of activity revealed by the survey suggest poor levels of fitness, with over a third of people (39 per cent) saying they get out of breath fairly quickly from walking up a flight of stairs. Women appear to be less fit than men, with 43 per cent saying they get out of breath fairly quickly, compared with 34 per cent of men.

The most common reason people give for not taking regular exercise is that they are too busy with work (35 per cent), while 25 per cent said they did not exercise because they felt too tired or unwell. Physiotherapists advise that regular exercise can benefit performance at work and treat lethargy, stress and depression.

Over half (53 per cent) of people questioned said that they would take more regular exercise if they could fit it into their existing daily routine, and 39 per cent said it would help if exercise were free.

The CSP 'Move for Health' campaign encourages everyone, whatever their age or circumstance, to do more physical activity in order to maximize their health. Chartered physiotherapists around the UK are showing that exercise does not require expensive equipment or lots of spare time. The CSP's free 'Easy Exercise Guide' offers safe expert physiotherapy advice on how to fit exercise into a daily routine.

Bridget Hurley says:

"Exercise doesn't need to be expensive, boring or time consuming. Just going outside at lunchtime for a half-hour walk every day will greatly increase your fitness levels. One of the best ways to counteract feeling ill and tired - one of the main reasons people don't exercise - is by becoming more active, which actually gives you more energy.

"We're all aware that exercise is important for our health and finding an activity that you enjoy, such as dancing or gardening, will make it much easier to maintain the sort of lifestyle that is good for us. The CSP has a range of free materials to help you find easy ways to be more active without injuring yourself or overdoing it".

See www.csp.org.uk/moveforhealth for free ‘Move for Health' advice and leaflets.

The CSP is calling on the NHS and local authorities to widen access to exercise opportunities and invest in popular activities for people of all ages, such as swimming, aerobics classes, gym sessions and cycling.