10% of Brits do less than 1,000 steps a day despite its health benefits

11/03/2024 06:04 PM

MORE than a quarter of us are walking less than we used to — despite its health benefits, a poll shows.

One in ten admit their longest trek on a typical day is from the sitting room to the kitchen.

And a similar proportion say they walk fewer than 1,000 daily steps, while almost two thirds fail to reach the recommended 10,000 a day.

As the days get shorter, nearly one in five say they cannot be bothered to go out in the cold.

Walks with the family are also becoming a rarity, with one in seven never doing so — despite six in ten saying they wish they did.

The over-55s are especially guilty, as a fifth skip family walks even though three quarters say they improve their mental and physical health.

Nearly half say that walking together helps reduce tensions in their household, according to the poll from Vitality Health Insurance.

Experts say doing 5,000 steps three times a week can add up to three years to your life expectancy.

Those who manage 7,500 steps five times a week are three and a half times more likely to eat healthily, it is claimed.

A previous study revealed regular long walks can make people look up to 16 years younger by middle-age.

Vitality's wellbeing coach Yetunde Bankole said: "While it's natural for our routines to change over time, it's important to make walking a daily habit.

"Walking is one of the simplest yet most effective ways to improve wellbeing — whether it's reducing stress, improving sleep, or fostering closer family or community connections."

Reluctant strollers should break up steps during the day instead of getting them in one go.

She added: "In winter, you might have to make an extra effort and resist the urge to stay indoors.

"Instead, wrap up warm, enjoy a walk and try to get some winter sun, both of which are proven to boost mood."