Exercise to beat disease

Every adult and child in Britain will today be urged to exercise at least five days a week in a hard-hitting campaign to prevent a health crisis.

Government health chiefs will unveil the biggest-ever programme to end "couch potato culture" amid mounting fears of a disease timebomb in Britain.

They say everyone must undertake at least half an hour of physical activity five days a week or risk an early grave. But they also warn many adults need double that amount to stave off obesity, heart disease, cancer and diabetes - with children needing more too. And people must be prepared to stay active throughout their life if they want to ward off illness.

The drive is being launched today by Chief Medical Officer Sir Liam Donaldson. Health chiefs will claim lack of exercise is costing England's economy £8.2 billion a year.

More than half of adults in England are overweight - slashing life expectancy and draining the NHS of resources. The report cites laziness as a key cause of disease, and puts it in the same league as smoking and poor diet. It highlights evidence that adults who exercise regularly are 50 per cent less likely to develop major chronic diseases - and are almost a third less likely to die young.

Sir Liam said: "We need to combat 'couch potato' culture, and this means building moderate, everyday physical activity into our lives. It is not about spending hours in the gym. It is about finding ways to build activities into our daily lives." Ideal activities cited in the get-fit campaign, entitled "At Least Five A Week", are walking, swimming, or cycling - though chores such as mowing the lawn, climbing stairs and housework also count.

But sedentary lifestyles and fattening diets mean half an hour may not be enough of a workout.

Today's report says: "It is likely that, for many, 45 to 60 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity is necessary to prevent obesity."

Under-18s are being told they need at least an hour of exercise every day. The programme was drawn up to address a decline in everyday physical activity. The time the average person spends walking has fallen by more than 25 per cent since 1980.

In 2002, 23 per cent of women and 22 per cent of men were obese - compared with eight per cent of women and six per cent of men in 1980. Obesity in children leapt by 25 per cent between 1995 and 2002. It is estimated that one in 10 six-year-olds is obese, rising to 17 per cent of 15-year-olds.