NEWS COPY
Seven in ten young adults are doing less sport and exercise now than they did during their school years, research has revealed.
Yet nine in ten admit that they would like to be much fitter than they are at the moment after a dramatic drop in the time they spend being active.
A study of Brits aged 16 to 30 found that the average young person will cut their time spent keeping fit and active in half once they finish their GCSEs.
They can expect to go from spending more than 12 hours playing sport or being active over the course of a week to just four hours and 26 minutes over a seven day period.
The study was commissioned by The Military Preparation College (MPCT) as it launches a new recruitment drive for 16-19 year olds who want to improve their life prospects by getting fit and motivated.
Nathan Gibbons, Head of Physical Literacy at MPCT said: “This research shows that there’s actually strong desire amongst young people to be fitter, but few are doing enough about it once they leave school.
“That’s a great shame as we know that when young people get fit, they become more motivated, more confident and can achieve so much more in all areas of their lives.
“Interesting, the study shows that only one quarter of the time spent keeping fit at school is from the structured lessons – most is from after school clubs and generally being active with friends outside of school.
“It’s only when you leave school that you realize how much you’re in control of your own fitness regime, it’s your choice whether to keep it up of let it slip.”
Looking back at their childhood, young Brits said they would be taking part in 12 hours and 17 minutes of sports, exercise and general outdoor activities in an average week.
More than two hours of that came from PE and sports lessons alone during the five day week.
The study found seven hours and 42 minutes of this ‘active’ time was spent outdoors being generally active with friends or family.
But more than one third of the respondents described themselves as an ‘inactive’ person now.
And 86 per cent thought that they needed to be more active than they are at the moment.
The research revealed 36 per cent now spend more of their life sitting down compared to their free time in their younger years.
In fact outside of their working hours, Brits aged 16-30 confess to sitting down for more than 15 hours a week.
This is compared to the five hours and 51 minutes they would spend sat playing games, watching TV and playing with gadgets back when they were at school.
Mr Gibbons added: “At The Military Preparation College, our students spend fifty per cent of their time doing physical training, and their thirst for life and learning is incredible. We firm believers that ‘active learning’ is the way forward.”
A series of Open Days at all 16 branches of The Military Preparation College are being held this month.
ENDS
