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Couch potato Britain: We are one of the most sedentary peoples on Earth, study …

July 18, 2012 by  
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By
Daily Mail Reporter


PUBLISHED:

23:44 EST, 17 July 2012

|

UPDATED:

05:08 EST, 18 July 2012


'Inactive': Britain has one of the most sedentary populations on Earth, a new study says (posed)

‘Inactive’: Britain has one of the most sedentary populations on Earth, a new study says (posed)

Britain has one of the most sedentary populations on earth, with almost twice the proportion of people defined as ‘inactive’ as in neighbouring France, a study has shown.

On the eve of the London Olympics, global figures reveal that even the Americans put us to shame when it comes to taking exercise.

In the UK, 63.3 per cent of the population fails to meet recommended levels of physical activity, increasing their risk of conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer.

By comparison, 40.5 per cent of US citizens are inactive, despite more than 30 per cent of them being obese.

Britain has the third-highest proportion of inactive adults in Europe after Malta, with 71.9 per cent, and Serbia, with 68.3 per cent.

Few countries in the world have a greater inactivity prevalence, with the list topped by Swaziland (69 per cent) and Saudi Arabia (68.8 per cent).

Of the French population, just under a third are inactive, while in the super-fit Netherlands less than a fifth of people are inactive.

In the Republic of Ireland, 53.2 per cent of the population fail to do sufficient exercise.

Researchers used World Health Organisation survey data, collected by questionnaire, to compare 122 countries representing 89 per cent of the world’s population.

Inactivity was defined as not meeting any of three criteria: 30 minutes of moderate activity such as a brisk walk, at least five days a week; 20 minutes of vigorous activity at least three days a week; or an equivalent combination of the two.

The findings, part of a series of studies on physical activity published in The Lancet medical journal, suggest that, worldwide, roughly three out of every 10 adults aged 15 and over do too little exercise.

Study leader Dr Pedro Hallal, from the Federal University of Pelotas in Brazil, said: ‘Although the technical revolution has been of great benefit to many populations throughout the world, it has come at a major cost in terms of the contribution of physical inactivity to the worldwide epidemic of non-communicable diseases.

‘Societal trends are leading to less not more activity than previously, and with few exceptions, health professionals have been unable to mobilise governments and populations to take physical inactivity seriously as a public health issue.’

Sedentary: A mammoth 63.3 per cent of the population fails to meet recommended levels of physical activity, increasing their risk heart disease, diabetes and cancer

Sedentary: A mammoth 63.3 per cent of the
population fails to meet recommended levels of physical activity

The research also found that more than four fifths of 13 to 15-year-olds around the world do not get the minimum recommended hour of moderate exercise a day.

A second study found that lack of physical activity leads to between 6 and 10 per cent of all cases of heart disease, type-2 diabetes, and breast and bowel cancer.

Globally, it was responsible for around 5.3million of the 57million deaths that occurred in 2008.

The contribution of insufficient exercise to disease and shortened lifespan was similar to that of smoking or obesity.

Researchers calculated the extent to which non-communicable diseases could be prevented if all a country’s inactive population became active.

The estimates suggest that, worldwide, 6 per cent of heart disease cases are linked to lack of exercise, ranging from 3.2 per cent in south-east Asia to 7.8 per cent in the eastern Mediterranean.

Low levels of physical activity are blamed for around 7 per cent of type-2 diabetes cases, and 10 per cent of breast and bowel cancer cases.

Average life expectancy worldwide would rise by around 0.68 years if no one was physically inactive, said the researchers. Eradicating smoking and obesity would achieve about the same result.

Study leader Dr I-Min Lee, from Harvard Medical School in Boston, US, said: ‘This summer we will admire the breathtaking feats of athletes competing in the 2012 Olympic Games.

‘Although only the smallest fraction of the population will attain these heights, the overwhelming majority of us are able to be physically active at very modest levels, e.g. 15 to 30 minutes a day of brisk walking, which bring substantial health benefits.’

Amy Thompson, senior cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation (BHF), said: ‘The results of this study, though shocking, tell us what we already know. Being physically active can have huge benefits for your health.

‘Adults should try and be active every day, and build up to at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity exercise each week. Moderate intensity means any activity which causes you to become warm, increases your heart rate slightly and gets you breathing a little harder than normal.

‘Choosing activities you enjoy will keep you motivated.’

Here’s what other readers have said. Why not add your thoughts,
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Look at Syria for the alternative to sedentary. Which would your prefer.

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Let the flood gates of “American fat jokes”, open. to re-route attention of your own problems

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Truth is – Truth Hurts??? Are you joking? DM always plays to your reading level by telling part of the truth while still lying. Want to see a 400 lb redneck on a golf cart? Keep reading the DM. I’ve no problem telling anyone that that would not be the usual sight for tourists on Miami Beach, Manhattan, San Fran, Chicago, LA, Vegas etc.. Besides, if you have a problem with our rednecks I’d bet a years salary you wouldn’t have the nads to tell them to their face. It must be so special having to constantly stroke an emasculated persona. The reailty is that we have actual cities with superior athletic reputations to your entire country, which by our standards is on par with Massachussetts.

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- Mainline FL, Miami USA – Oh truth hurts does it? 400 pound rednecks exercising in golf carts is not a sight for sore eyes. The sad thing is they wonder why they aren’t losing weight.

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alk to people of 80 years or more.Ask them if they have ever jogged,run on a running machine,been to a gym……and the answer will be NO ! So work this out for yourself. Many of todays young people will wear out their joints,and heart well before the old ones of today.
- D.Richards, Milton Keynes., 18/7/2012 15:48
You are a complete idiot!

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“Somehow I doubt Americans put Britons to shame in the exercise stakes. I suspect it is the way the question is asked. Truth Is, South of There”
The real truth is you and the writer do not know what the hell you’re talking about. Let’s see, of the two countries which has the reputation for great athletes? Good weather? Great beaches? Get up and go? This isn’t close! The fact is most English complain if there are signs of life in their neighbors yards never mind there own. Things we hold dear like barbeque smoke and power tools you consider a nuisance and this issue even contains a top ten list of that!

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What do you expect with successive governments throwing benefits at unmarried mothers who can’t cook and feed their children on burgers and chips. I won’t get on to the hereditary work shy army that you see getting their 10 am pinta in certain establishments and we are not talking milk!

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Of course the Dutch are fit – they bike everywhere! What else is new?

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And thanks to benefits people don’t even have to get out of bed to go to work. Backward Britain

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Somehow I doubt Americans put Britons to shame in the exercise stakes. I suspect it is the way the question is asked. Their view of exercise is walking to the pick up truck to drive to the store on the other side of the street. Or taking the dog for a long walk, the dog walks and they ride a golf cart.

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