Walking just 2.5 hours a week could prevent 37,000 deaths

Almost 37,000 deaths in England could be prevented a year if people walked for just 2.5 hours a week, a study claims.

The report, from the Ramblers and Macmillan Cancer Support, also showed that just 150 minutes a week of moderate activity – such as cycling or fast walking – could prevent almost 5,000 cases of bowel cancer and almost 295,000 cases of diabetes.

“Active people are less stressed, sleep better, have a 30 per cent lower risk of getting depressed and reduce their risk of developing dementia,” the report says. It adds: “Physical inactivity now rivals smoking as one of the nation’s biggest health problems. Today it’s responsible for 17 per cent of early deaths in the UK.”