Exercise 'All Over' At 34
Last updated: 17/08/2007 - 09:42
Brits have mostly given up on exercise by the time they reach their mid-thirties find healthcare researchers.
The average Briton gives up exercise at the age of 34, research from Benenden Healthcare* shows, with men quicker to stop than women.
The report, which investigated the country’s exercise habits, found that on average men give up their regular exercise regime five years earlier than their female counterparts at the age of 32 while women carry on until at least 37.
Whilst the average person gives up exercise at 34, the research found that there are plenty of people who carry on well into retirement, with around 3.6 million people over the age of 65 continuing to exercise more than three times a week.
Healthy Lifestyle Exercise
Jakki Stubbington of Benenden Healthcare comments: “As we get older we tend to exercise less, either as result of other commitments such as work or through sheer lack of motivation. As an essential part of a healthy lifestyle exercise should be at the top of our list of priorities, not at the bottom. This doesn’t mean that you have to be lifting heavy weights in the gym every day but simply following the Government guidelines of around 150 minutes of light exercise a week.”
At aged 49, those in Yorkshire and Humberside have the highest average age at which people give up exercise, whilst those in London have the lowest average age at just 30 years old.
Benenden Healthcare offers membership to teachers and education workers, Post Office staff, civil servants, BT and local government authorities’ employees, charity workers and their families. Membership costs just £1.25 per person, per week. Additionally, organisations operating in these areas can join Benenden’s corporate plan and offer healthcare as a benefit to staff for just £65 per person, per year.
*GFK NOP interviewed a representative sample of 1000 adults between 11-13 May 2007. PSP Ltd is not responsible for the contents of external websites.
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