WALKING DREAD
10% of Brits do less than 1,000 steps a day despite its health benefits
Walks with the family are also becoming a rarity
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.”
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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.”
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