One short walk per week a step too far for more than a quarter of Scarborough residents
Sport England’s annual Active Lives Survey asked 368 residents between November 2018 and November 2019 how often they take a 10 minute walk, for either leisure or travel.
The results show 27% of them did so less than once a week – which is worse than the year before, when 23% gave the same answer.
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Hide AdThe proportion of adults in Scarborough who do not take a short weekly stroll was lower than the average across England, of 29%.
The figures show that people in England are walking less than a year before, which underlines the challenge for the Government’s latest health campaign to “tackle the problem of obesity across all ages”.
The NHS recommends 150 minutes a week of moderate activity, which can include brisk walking, to treat obesity.
The figures also show Scarborough residents were even less likely to cycle than walk, with just 11% getting out on their bikes at least once per week.
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Hide AdAnd 17% said they did not either walk or cycle at least once every four weeks.
The Government’s new strategy to help people lose weight includes over £2bn in safe walking and cycling routes, a ban on some junk food promotions and stricter advertising controls.
A spokesman said: “We are determined to tackle the problem of obesity across all ages. We recently launched a world leading strategy to help reduce obesity rates and help everyone live healthier lives.”