Activity levels were on the rise and inactivity was falling before the coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak, according to Sport England’s latest Active Lives Adult Survey. Conducted in the 12 months to November 2019, the figures show 28.6 million adults were active – i.e. doing at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity a week. This accounts for 63.3% of the nation’s population and is up 404,600 people on the previous 12 months.

The results also show there were 159,500 fewer inactive people – those not doing at least 30 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity a week – than the previous 12 months. The report shows the increase in activity is being driven by rises in the numbers of women, adults aged 55+ and disabled people or people with long-term health conditions being active.

Also, for the first time the report shows information relating to people’s perceived loneliness and its link to physical activity, with those both volunteering and playing sport being less likely to feel lonely and reporting higher levels of happiness.

Read more – www.sportengland.org/activelivesapr20