NI failing physical activity targets

Published Wednesday, 18 July 2012

People in Northern Ireland, the Republic and across the UK are failing to get active for the minimum time recommended, with even America - where 30% of people are obese - putting us to shame.

We’re sorry. This video is unavailable from your location.

To find out if this video is available to you, we need to know what region you live in. Please enter your postcode below (including space).

Frequently Asked Questions

Thank you for confirming your region.

Frequently Asked Questions

We are sorry but this video is not available on u.tv in your region. Your region is listed below.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are you in Northern Ireland?

1. Why is my postcode required?

We are asking you to insert your postcode before watching some videos to confirm you can access the video content via u.tv.

This is because some videos on u.tv are only available in Northern Ireland.

Don't worry, we won't store or use this information for any other purpose.

If you are not in Northern Ireland, the content may be available to watch at itv.com or stv.tv.

2. Why am I directed to itv.com or stv.tv when I try to view certain clips?

The videos, which are not available on u.tv to users outside Northern Ireland, will be available to those users on itv.com (for users in England and Wales) or stv.tv (for most users in Scotland).

We need to know where you are in order to make sure you are getting the right content.

If you think we've got your location wrong, then please click here.

Need more help? Contact us

UTV NEWS POLL

With more than 60% of people in Northern Ireland considered ‘inactive’, how do you see yourself?

Gym fanatic
Active enough
Needs to improve
Couch potato

Show Results

While just over 40% of Americans are classed as 'inactive', the figure rises to over 53% in the Republic of Ireland, around 62% in Northern Ireland and over 63% UK-wide.

That means that the majority of people don't undertake either 30 minutes of moderate activity, like a brisk walk, at least five days a week or 20 minutes of vigorous activity at least three days a week.

And when it comes to teenagers, inactivity is a global issue with 80% of those aged between 13 and 15 not getting the recommended minimum of an hour's moderate exercise a day.

According to the Public Health Agency, the action that needs to be taken isn't even all that drastic - but it could make a big difference to our general health and well-being.

We can’t all be Olympic athletes, but we can all increase the level of exercise we take.
Mary Black, Public Health Agency

"You just need anything that gets the heart rate increased," Mary Black from the PHA told UTV.

"Walking to the shops instead of taking the car, going to the park, going for a walk with the children ... Simple, ordinary things like getting off the bus a stop earlier or taking the stairs instead of the lift."

The UK definitely has a way to go though, with one of the highest proportion of inactive adults in Europe - in fact, coming third behind only to Malta (71.9%) and Serbia (68.3%).

And there are actually few countries right around the world where higher levels of inactivity exist, with Swaziland topping the list at 69%.

The figures are the result of research using World Health Organisation data and suggest we really should be following the example set by the super-fit Dutch.

Only 18.2% of people in the Netherlands are considered inactive.

Lack of physical activity is considered to have a similar impact on health to smoking or obesity and can contribute to conditions including heart disease, type-two diabetes and some cancers.

But with the Olympics just on the horizon, there should soon be plenty of motivation to get active.

Comments

3 Comments

Paul in Derry wrote (309 days ago):

Have to agree with Mad Jack this time. People are rewarded in this country for being lazy while the people who work pay the price. The lazy ones enjoy a relaxed lifestyle funded by the hard working people and its got to the stage where many couldnt be a**ed to look after their own health, putting more pressure on the health service, putting more pressure on the tax payer. Its a downward spiral. Maybe we should put you in charge of the Health Service Mad Jack and let you sort it out ;)

Nichola Jarvis (Tribal Fitness) in Bangor wrote (309 days ago):

This country needs to get moving! More people, more active, more of the time! You can CHOOSE to do it!

Mad Jack McMadd in Derry wrote (309 days ago):

What do you expect when there are so many lazy people in this country spoon fed by society. People don't have to work, people don't have to look after their own kids, don't have to pay their own rent, have a health service to look after them when they get sick. The Nanny state is resonsible for this. When someone can't be bothered to do something basic like get a job because they don't have to, why do you think they're going to go for a run or go to the gym? The past 40 years has created a culture of laziness which people try to excuse away by blaming unemployment, the banks, the credit crunch, immigrants and all the usual sham excuses I hear people come out with. Pure laziness fueled by the Government giving them handouts is the real cause in a lot of cases and as usual it’s the tax payer who suffers. The Health service should be based on how much you contribute to society and how well you look after yourself. Why should some single mother who sits at home all day drinking and smoking get a higher priority on a health service waiting list than a person who works, doesn't smoke or drink and who looks after themselves?