Brits spending 'twice as long' making tea as doing exercise each week

The average UK adult spends more than twice as long making tea as they do exercising each week.

A study of 2,080 UK adults by ComRes reveals that Brits spend an average of 40 minutes a day making tea – equating to four hours and 37 minutes a week – compared with an average of just 14 minutes’ moderate physical activity a day, equating to one hour and 38 minutes a week.

Commissioned by health body ukactive ahead of National Fitness Day on Wednesday 25 September, the survey also highlights a "glaring fitness gap" in the UK, with 13 per cent of respondents claiming not to do any exercise at all and 15 per cent doing fewer than 30 minutes of moderate exercise a week.

This means that 28 per cent of UK adults are classed as physically inactive.

Being inactive isn't down to ignorance, however, as the study shows that 80 per cent of respondents rank personal health and wellbeing in the top three things they care about, while more than half of UK adults (56 per cent) agree that physical activity helps them feel better when they are having a bad day.

Other findings from the survey include that nearly a third (30 per cent) of those working full time have been forced to cancel exercise due to work commitments on a regular basis and that the average UK adult spends one hour and 36 minutes a day on social media platforms.

Huw Edwards, CEO of ukactive, said: "More people than ever are aware of the physical and mental benefits of physical activity; however, these figures show that despite our best intentions, modern living has stripped physical activity from our days.

"National Fitness Day is the perfect time to reflect on your activity habits and try something new from the thousands of free events taking place on the day."

• To find more about the National Fitness Day, click here.