More than 20 million people in the UK are physically inactive, according to a new health report.
The findings, released by The British Heart Foundation, reveal such inactivity greatly increases the nation’s risk of cardiovascular disease, costing the NHS £1.2bn per year.
Women are 36% more likely than men to be classified as physically inactive - 11.8 million women compared with 8.3 million men.
BHF analysis shows the average man spends over a fifth of his lifetime sitting – equivalent to 78 days each year.
More than 5million deaths worldwide are attributed to physical inactivity. In the UK alone it causes one in ten premature deaths from coronary heart disease, and one in six deaths overall.
The report defines “inactive” as not achieving the government guidelines for physical activity of 150 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity a week and strength activities on at least two days a week.
As a result the charity is launching MyMarathon challenge this year, urging people to kick-start a more active lifestyle to help improve their heart health.
It challenge encourages people of all fitness levels to run the 26.2 miles in their own time over a month, from as little as a mile a day, with money raised helping to fund life saving research to fight heart disease.
Here are 10 ways to get more active that won’t feel like too much of a chore.
If it isn't feasible for you to run or walk to work, but how about getting off the train a stop early or parking further away than usual?
Whether it's a jog around the local park or encouraging your office to introduce lunch time classes, make sure you make that lunch break count.
What's more, many London-based gyms are introducing short lunch-time classes to help fit in with your schedule. See here for more info.
If that hasn't convinced you, here are 15 reasons you need a workout buddy in 2017.
Try a HIIT or body weight circuit at home to work up a sweat. Not sure what to do? Check out YouTube or follower personal trainers like Alice Liveing for some easy-to-follow workouts.
If you want to push that little bit harder, get yourself some lightweight dumbbells or resistance band to feel the burn.
It doesn't have to be a trip to the gym or a jog -- it can be anything active you like doing together.
A recent study revealed that just hour of walking after work could cancel out the negative effect of sitting at a desk all day.
And if you don't have a dog - hook up with a dog owner pal or use BorrowMyDoggy to hook up with a local pooch.
It's a great full body workout and way to keep joints mobilised. It's pretty inexpensive and if you're lucky, you could even splash around in the local lido (weather dependent).
And next time you find yourself poolside on holiday, make sure you don't just spend a fortnight on a lilo, OK?
It needn't be serious - join a local league or rent a pitch for a game five-a-side with your mates.
Keen to get started? Check out Be Inspired, a comprehensive site where people can look up sports they might be interested in starting, then find a club in their local area. Be Inspired is run by Sport England and UK Sport and is funded by National Lottery money.
Prices are £10 per class (or less if you buy a package) and sessions are available across many UK cities.Check out joinrabble.com to find your nearest session.