1 in 5 Brits don't exercise at all, survey reports

Don't feel like going to the gym? You're not alone it seems
Shutterstock / Stock-Asso
Samantha J. Gross15 March 2017

“There’s not enough time in the day and the weather is unpleasant”, some say. “I’m too tired after work and I don’t own the right exercise clothes”, others respond.

It always seems like there’s perfectly good reason to skip the gym but regardless of the excuse, surveys suggest that one in five Brits don’t exercise at all.

More than 2000 people were questioned about their attitudes toward exercise by charity Arthritis Research UK, with 75 percent saying they wished they exercised more than once per week. Just 53 percent of people said they do.

If you exercise daily, you’re in the minority - just 18 percent of people surveyed reported that they do. The top three reasons for putting off exercise? Not having the time (33 percent), feeling tired (32 percent) and cold weather (28 percent).

Desk exercise equipment - in pictures

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Joint pain was also revealed as a barrier to exercise. Fifty-one percent of respondents who reported joint pain said that the pain had put them off doing exercise.

Not exercising as much as you’d like? According to Government guidelines, all adults should exercise a minimum of 30 minutes per day, five days a week.

It's time to get the blood flowing.

Follow Samantha J. Gross on Twitter @samanthajgross

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