Most think being active is dangerous if you are a bit overweight

Main Category: Obesity / Weight Loss / Fitness
Article Date: 02 Apr 2004 - 0:00 PDT

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What would you think if someone told you he was staying inactive because it is better for his health. If he told you that as he was a bit overweight activity could harm him, it could be bad for his health, that he would be healthier not doing anything? Well, according to a new study, that is what the majority of British people think.

The majority of people in the United Kingdom really do think it is healthier to relax than to do exercise. They think that if they are a bit overweight exercise will be dangerous for them.

In this study, Dr. Carrie Ruxton, a sports dietician, found that 10% of people thought that getting up to change TV channels helps you get fit (rather than using the zapper).

Dr. Ruxton has come to the conclusion that the UK's obesity crisis will only get better if the majority of the population undergoes a massive change in lifestyle. She found that most people in the UK are inactive.

In her study, Dr. Ruxton interviewed 3,000 people. They were asked about their health and lifestyles. 41% of the people she interviewed never did any kind of sports whatsoever. Another 22% did less than one hour a week of sports or sports like activity.

Dr. Ruxton stressed that people need to understand that being overweight is not just a question of how much you eat, it is also directly related to how active your body is. She believes that inactivity is both part of the problem and the solution to Britain's obesity explosion.

She was surprised that people have got the message that physical activity is important. But most are doing nothing about it.

Over half the people she interviewed spent most of their working day sitting down. More than 60% did not do more than one hour's exercise per week.

When asked how long it would take them to burn off the calories of a large hamburger and French fries only 30% knew it would take three hours of exercise.

Dr Ruxton said "As people increasingly eat out these days, they don't know how many calories they are eating let alone how much physical activity is needed to burn those calories off. While nearly 60% said they didn't have time to be more active, they nevertheless found time to watch television and videos, and to play computer games for several hours a day."

She found that many people, 40%, use their cars for very short walkable journeys.

She was intrigued that so many people said they did not have the time for physical activity. However, these people spent hours each day sat in an armchair watching TV and playing video/computer games.

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