Fitness levels among Britons have reached an all-time low, according to a survey.The poll shows that 53% of people cannot touch their toes and 68% are not able to manage 20 sit-ups.
Two thirds of those who participated in the survey confessed they had not done any fast-paced exercise such as running or cycling in the past year.
A quarter of women are unable to fasten their bra and 60% said they were unable to carry their weekly shopping home for the supermarket.
Fred Turok, chairman of the gym chain LA Fitness, which carried out the research, said: "Fitness levels in this country are reaching danger levels - not being able to touch your toes sounds laughable, but it is really a national tragedy."
Lacking basic flexibility goes hand in hand with serious health problems such as life-threatening circulatory conditions and arthritis, he said.
Mr Turok said: "These worryingly low levels of fitness will ultimately ignite the timebomb that is the obesity issue."
The survey of basic health and fitness showed that poor flexibility and fitness is affecting everyday lives in the UK. The survey also showed Britons have a good grasp of healthy eating, with 89% aware of the Government”s five-a-day campaign. However, a third said they felt “saturated” with healthy eating messages.
In contrast, 51% were confused about fitness guidelines and wanted clarification on what constitutes a healthy level of exercise. The majority were also unaware of what their BMI (Body Mass Index) is.
The gym chain suggested Government recommendations of 30 minutes vigorous exercise a day was "unfeasible and demotivational" for many.
Research suggests that an overweight six or seven year old will grow up to be overweight or obese.
Foreign news – Resource: Sky News
