Physical Activity facts and figures

• Physically active adults have 20-30% reduced risk of premature death and are up to 50% less likely to be at risk of major chronic disease such as coronary heart disease, stroke, diabetes and cancer.
• The estimated cost of physical inactivity in England is £8.2 billion annually, which does not include the contribution of inactivity to obesity which itself has been estimated at £2.5 billion annually.
• For general health benefit, adults should achieve a total of at least 30 minutes a day of at least moderate intensity physical activity on five or more days of the week.
• The recommended levels of activity can be achieved either by doing all the daily activity in one session, or through several shorter bouts of activity of 10 minutes or more.
• Physical inactivity costs the NHS an estimated £1.7 billion per year.
• Physical activity interventions are cost-effective and can save the NHS money in the long term by reducing ill health.
• A fitter nation means a healthier nation which will produce real cost savings for the NHS.

For more on the physical activity care pathway pilot project in Central London click here.