Looking around the streets and parks of the UK, or scrolling through #fitspo workout selfies on social media, it can sometimes feel as if everyone is exercising: running, weightlifting, wild swimming or competing in Ironman triathlons. In reality a huge 12.4 million of us are inactive. But why? It’s often a combination of reasons: time, money, health, feeling unsure where to start, mobility problems, being intimidated by gyms, or even scarred by school PE lessons.
Then came Covid. “Our latest Active Lives survey found that activity levels are now starting to recover after the disruptions of the pandemic,” says Kate Dale of Sport England. “But the pandemic exacerbated existing lower activity levels for certain groups of people. Women, lower-income households, people from Black and south Asian backgrounds and those with a long-term health condition or disability are still less likely to be active. In challenging times, boosting our health and wellbeing through movement – be it a walk, swim, jog, a dance or a fitness class – is essential.”
