FOUR in 10 adults don't manage 10 minutes' walking a month, shocking figures reveal. 

Public Health England has released scary stats today, showing that a third of adults aged 40-60 do less than 30 minutes exercise a week. 

Both Slough and Reading are worse than the national average. Bracknell fared slightly better, with more adults getting 30 minutes exercise a week.

The Thames Valley Evidence paper shows ten minutes of walking at a brisk intensity each day can help prevent cancer, heart disease and poor mental health.

Physical inactivity amongst adults contributes to one in six deaths in the UK and is costing the NHS over £0.9 billion per year.

Public Health England lis launching a new One You physical activity campaign to encourage people to do brisk 10 minute walks.

On average, people are 20% less active now than they were in the 1960s and on average walk 15 miles less a year than two decades ago.

The inactive nature of modern, busy lives makes it difficult for many to find the time for enough exercise to benefit their health.

PHE’s new One You physical activity campaign is encouraging adults to build 10 minutes continuous brisk walking into their day as a simple way to improve their health.

This is particularly aimed at those who have an inactive or low activity lifestyle and may find incorporating activity into their day challenging. 

Taking at least one brisk ten minute walk a day has been shown to reduce the risk of early death by 15 per cent.

Angela Baker, Deputy Director, Health and Wellbeing for Public Health England South East, said: "Starting to introduce exercise into your life when you have not been doing any can feel very daunting - especially for those intimidated by gyms full of lycra.

"You don't have to start expensive fitness regimes or wear sports kits to get the benefits of an active lifestyle, though. Whether walking to work, stepping out at lunchtime or taking the dog for a walk - there are many ways to incorporate a brisk walk into your daily life and we hope this app will help people to do this."

The free app combines walking intensity and time, rather than just distance or steps and is the first of its kind. It helps people gradually introduce more activiyy into their daily routine, with goal setting advice and motivational tips. It has already helped 50,000 adults get more active.

Professor Sir Muir Gray, Clinical Adviser for the Active 10 app and the One You campaign, said: “We all know physical activity is good for your health, but for the first time we’re seeing the effects that easily achievable changes can make. By walking just 10 continuous minutes at a brisk pace every day, an individual can reduce their risk of early death by 15%. They can also prevent or delay the onset of disability and further reduce their risk of serious health conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, dementia and some cancers”

Search ‘Active 10’ to download the free app which shows how much brisk walking you are currently doing and provides tips and encouragement on how to fit ten minute bursts of brisk walking into your daily routine.