Couch potato nation

 

Last updated at 12:12pm on 8th December 2006

England is in the grips of an obesity crisis

 

 

 

England is a nation of armchair sports fans an extensive survey has found. An astonishing half of the population do not take part in any sport or active recreation.

Just one in five are managing the recommended 30 minutes of moderate intensity exercise at least three days a week. This includes 6.3 per cent who exercise every day according to the Active People Survey, billed by Sport England as Europe's biggest study of sport and fitness habits.

Ipsos Mori researchers spoke to 363,724 people aged over 16 across England's 354 local authorities about their participation in sport and active recreation.

The sample size is more than 20 times bigger than the 2002 General Household Survey, the last major poll on sports.

Regional breakdown

The South East, where 22.6 per cent of residents took part in three-times-a-week exercise, was the most active region, while the West Midlands was the least at 19.3 per cent.

The most active local authority was Richmond upon Thames, where 29.8 per cent of residents took regular exercise. Boston in Lincolnshire and Newham in east London were the least active as just 14.3 and 14.5 per cent of residents managed to get out and about.

A striking feature is the low rates of participation along large tracts of the eastern coast line, running from Northumberland all the way to Kent, the survey found.

Sport England is responsible for promoting and investing in sport, helping the Government meet its sporting objectives and distributing both Lottery and Exchequer funds to sport.

Its chairman, Derek Mapp, said: "Knowing the scale of the challenge is the first step to putting it right and it is a wake up call to people everywhere.

"We aim to get two million more people doing sport by 2012. It's a huge challenge and we're ready for it."

Sport England pledged to work with every local authority and other interested groups to better target its resources to back sport facilities, coaches and other volunteers.

But all is not lost as 69.5 per cent of adults are satisfied with the sports provision in their local area.

One in four adults - 10.2 million people - belong to a health or sports club, compared with one in six in 2002, and six million have taken part in competitive sport in the past year.

Walking, swimming, going to the gym, cycling, football, running and jogging, golf, badminton, tennis and aerobics were the 10 most popular sports.

The survey will be repeated in three years' time to see if efforts to improve have had an impact. Mr Mapp said: "This survey and the actions that will flow from it will be powerful tools in our fight against inactivity which costs the country over £8 billion a year."

.

A striking feature is the low rates of participation along large tracts of the eastern coast line, running from Northumberland all the way to Kent, the survey found.

 

cant say i'm surprised. i was really surprised when i was in north yorkshire that people there have a lot more problems with their weight than in other parts of the country i've been.

 

there isnt such a difference between different areas in switzerland.

cant say i'm surprised. i was really surprised when i was in north yorkshire that people there have a lot more problems with their weight than in other parts of the country i've been.

 

 

That's why people are now calling it North Porkshire!!:P

Nowt like a juicy Greggs Potato and Meat Pie :cool:

Nowt like a juicy Greggs Potato and Meat Pie :cool:

 

Well we now know who ate all the pies, don't we??!!:P

That's why people are now calling it North Porkshire!!:P

 

it more sounds like its the whole east of england.

 

the worst about it was how people dressed, especially when they were going out at night. i understand that people do have problems with their weight but they just dont seem to care about it.

it more sounds like its the whole east of england.

 

the worst about it was how people dressed, especially when they were going out at night. i understand that people do have problems with their weight but they just dont seem to care about it.

 

So what were they wearing? Baggy fleeces and tracksuits??:thinking:

So what were they wearing? Baggy fleeces and tracksuits??:thinking:

 

yeah. but i was more talking about the girls, they were wearing so little even though it was winter and damn cold.

yeah. but i was more talking about the girls' date=' they were wearing so little even though it was winter and damn cold.[/quote']

 

Well it's quite normal "oop north", especially in Geordieland, where they're famous for it!!:rolleyes:

Well it's quite normal "oop north"' date=' especially in Geordieland, where they're famous for it!!:rolleyes:[/quote']

 

they do in liverpool but it was a lot worse in north yorkshire, especially in the village i lived. i dont see the point of not wearing coat in winter, you can just take it off when you're in a bar or a club.:thinking:

they do in liverpool but it was a lot worse in north yorkshire' date=' especially in the village i lived. i dont see the point of not wearing coat in winter, you can just take it off when you're in a bar or a club.:thinking:[/quote']

 

Of course - but then you are not a "chav"!!:P