A new study has shown that levels of physical activity can be linked directly with socioeconomic status, revealing a large disparity between individuals with varying levels of education, household income and local area deprivation.

The ERSC-funded study, conducted by the University of Bristol and analysing the data of over one million adults from Sport England's annual Active People Surveys (APS) revealed that the government's target of moderate exercise at least 12 times in a four-week period is only being achieved by 20 per cent of the population.

The research suggested that those living in areas with more sporting facilities and higher local authority spending on new facilities were more likely to be active.

The study also revealed that those with higher socioeconomic status were more physically active and people with a degree only had a 12 per cent chance of inactivity, meaning 88 per cent are exercising regularly. By contrast those without any qualification were three times more likely not to do any exercise.

About 8 per cent of adults who were physically able to walk had not walked for five consecutive minutes continuously over a four-week period, while 46 per cent had not walked for leisure purposes for more than 30 minutes continuously.

Out of those surveyed, 88 per cent had not been swimming, 90 per cent had not used a gym and around 20 per cent over the age of 16 had done only minimal amounts of physical activity.

To read the full study click here