More than 20 million ‘physically inactive’ Britons are at risk of heart disease

More than 20 million people in Britain are physically inactive and putting themselves at risk of heart disease, a study has said.

The British Heart Foundation (BHF) warned that a lack of exercise across the nation costs the NHS about £1.2 billion a year.

The charity defines ‘inactive’ as not accomplishing government guidelines of 150 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity a week and strength activities at least two days a week.

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According to the BHF, women are 36% more likely than m en to be physically inactive – 11.8 million women compared to 8.3 million men.

However, the study said the average man in the UK spends a fifth of his lifetime sitting down – the equivalent of 78 days a year.

For women, the figure is slightly lower at 74 days a year.

Percentage of population that is physically inactive (BHF):

1. North West England – 47%
2. Northern Ireland – 46%
3. Wales – 42%
4. North East England – 42%
5=. London – 40%
5=. West Midlands – 40%
5=. Yorkshire and the Humber – 40%
8. East Midlands – 39%
9=. East of England – 37%
9=. Scotland – 37%
11. South West England – 35%
12. South East England – 34%

The BHF said that more than 5 million deaths worldwide are caused by a lack of physical activity.

The worst area in Britain was the North West of England, where 47% of adults (or 2.7 million people) are physically inactive.

In Northern Ireland, the figure is 46%, the study said.

The fittest area in Britain is the South East, where only 34% of adults don’t do enough physical activity.

The BHF said 76% of people in England referred for cardiac rehabilitation after suffering a heart attack or undergoing heart surgery are considered physically inactive.

It said regular exercise can reduce the risk of heart and circulatory disease by as much as 35% and risk of early death by as much as 30%.