MOST ADULTS in England are now overweight and one in five is obese, according to a  National Audit Office (NAO) report. The NAO puts much of the blame on sedentary lifestyles, and has called for the promotion of physical exercise, including walking.

The NAO's research found that levels of obesity - when a person puts on weight to the point that seriously endangers their health - have trebled since 1980 and are continuing to rise. Two thirds of men and more than half of women are now overweight or obese.

If this trend continues, over a quarter of adults in England will be obese by 2010, equaling levels currently seen in the United States.

Carrying around excess weight increases the chance of poor health and of early death. In addition, the NAO estimates that treatment of obesity-related disease costs the NHS at least £0.5billion per year.

The report also found that obesity among schoolchildren is increasing, raising concern over the health of England's future adult population. This adds to findings recently published in the British Medical Journal which found the proportion of overweight English children has soared in recent years.

The NAO blames this disturbing increase in weight on a combination of less active lifestyles - including increasing car use and the decline of walking as a form of transport - and changes in eating patterns. It recommends government departments and local authorities develop strategies to promote the health benefits of increasing physical activity, particularly highlighting active forms of travel such as walking. 

Walking is free, needs no special equipment and even a little each day can make a real difference. Not only will it help you lose weight safely, it protects against the risk of heart disease and strokes. Regular walking can be readily introduced into both adults' and children's lives as a form of environmentally-friendly transport and a healthy alternative to jumping into the car for short journeys. Or, if you need some company to keep you motivated, join the Ramblers' Association - our 400-plus groups organise regular led walks throughout Britain.

Further reading
Walking for Health Factsheet: Tackling Obesity in England, National Audit Office www.nao.gov.uk