One short walk per week a step too far for more than a quarter of Scarborough residents

More than a quarter of adults in Scarborough fail to take one short walk a week, new figures suggest.
A survey asked 368 residents how often they take a 10 minute walk for either leisure or travel. Photo: PA ImagesA survey asked 368 residents how often they take a 10 minute walk for either leisure or travel. Photo: PA Images
A survey asked 368 residents how often they take a 10 minute walk for either leisure or travel. Photo: PA Images

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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The 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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And 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.”