Physical activity

The benefits of physical activity are well documented. Physical activity can help reduce the risk of non-communicable or chronic diseases that negatively affect healthy life expectancy, such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity and some cancers. It can also support mental health, through improving mood and reducing stress, while improving energy levels and sleep quality.

The health benefits of being physically active include:

• a 30% lower risk of early death;
• a 30% lower risk of falls (among older adults);
• up to a 20% lower risk of breast cancer;
• up to a 30% lower risk of dementia;
• up to a 30% lower risk of depression;
• up to a 35% lower risk of coronary heart disease and stroke;
• up to a 50% lower risk of colon cancer;
• up to a 50% lower risk of type 2 diabetes;
• up to a 68% lower risk of hip fracture; and
• up to an 83% lower risk of osteoarthritis.*

Key findings

Adults

Estimates of physical activity levels come from national and local surveys, with the latest nationally published figures from the Sport England Active Lives Survey (2020/21). The Chief Medical Officer’s report (2011) recommends that adults aged 19-64 years undertake 150 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity per week; examples of moderate activity include brisk walking, water aerobics, doubles tennis, riding a bike (on level ground or with a few hills), hiking, pushing a lawn mower or skateboarding. 

• The survey estimates that almost two-thirds (65.9%) of the adult population (19+ years) in Lancashire-12 are physically active (meeting the national guidelines of a minimum of 150 minutes of moderate activity per week), statistically similar to the England proportion (65.9%).
• Only Fylde (61.0%) is estimated to have a significantly lower proportion of physically active adults compared to England, while Ribble Valley (74.2%) has a significantly higher proportion. Blackburn with Darwen (57.8%) and Blackpool (55.9%) are significantly lower than England.
• Over a fifth (24.4%) of the adult population in Lancashire-12 is physically inactive (adults doing less than 30 minutes of moderate activity per week), similar to England (23.4%). When applied to the latest 2020 mid-year population estimates (Office for National Statistics) this equates to just over 287,100 adults. 
• Pendle (30.1%) has a significantly higher proportion of inactive adults compared to England and Lancaster (18.9%) and Ribble Valley (17.6%) have significantly lower proportions. Blackburn with Darwen (32.3%) and Blackpool (55.9%) are also significantly higher than England. 
• Data from 2019/20 show that in Lancashire 11.9% of adults walk for travel at least three days per week (England 15.1%), while 1.6% of adults cycle for travel at least three days per week (England 2.3%). Both Lancashire's proportions are significantly lower than England.

Children

It is recommended that children aged 5-18 should be engaging in at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity every day.

• Figures from the 2014/15 What about YOUth survey indicate that just 15.0% of young people aged 15 in Lancashire-12 met the guidelines, similar to the England proportion (13.9%).
• Only 14.1% of children in Blackpool and 12.4% in Blackburn with Darwen are meeting the recommended levels of physical activity.
• Both nationally and locally more work is needed to get children and young people active.

For county and unitary data and further information please see below.

*NHS, 2017

For district data and full functionality of the Public Health England fingertips tool please visit the web page

Page updated May 2022