Map of UK fitness reveals those living in the south are the healthiest
Nuffield Health – the UK’s largest healthcare charity - collected data from around 40,000 people keen on improving their fitness. And the figures reveal that London is officially Britain’s fitness hotspot with Bristol taking third place.
While Glasgow topped the charts for the unfit hotspots with around forty per cent of Glaswegians taking the health MOT classified as either obese or morbidly obese. The Scottish city also reported the most smokers (29 per cent) and is the fifth highest location for those getting the least sleep.
Dr Sarah Dauncey, Nuffield Health’s Medical Director for Wellbeing, said: “Obesity is a growing problem in the UK which must be tackled to ensure people live healthier and longer lives.
“Evaluating your health is important and the first step is to take control of your health and wellbeing.
“Nuffield Health’s MOT considers various factors including sleep, smoking habits, blood pressure and cholesterol levels as well as Body Mass Index - these are all important in testing levels of wellbeing.”
The area of the capital taking the number one spot is Bloomsbury, while Wimbledon took second place and Bristol third - Around two thirds of those living in the South Western city have a BMI of between 18 and 25.
The fourth and fifth healthiest locations are also in London: Covent Garden and the City of London.
As for the obesity hotspots, 36 per cent of Glaswegian men and 31 per cent of Glaswegian women are classified obese; while nearly six per cent of women in the Scottish city are classified morbidly obese.
For men, Hull and Nuneaton take second and third plface, with 28 per cent and 27 per cent of those surveyed having a BMI of more than 30. And Worcester women are second in the list, with 27 per cent having a BMI of more than 30 – taking third place for women is Nuneaton (26 per cent with a BMI more than 30).
UK Average: ‘Mr and Mrs Newbury’
The town which represents the average UK fitness is Newbury, Berkshire, with an average BMI of a little more than 25.
Mr Newbury weighs: 14 stone 7 pounds and is 5ft 9ins
Mrs Newbury weighs: 12 stone 8 pounds and is 5ft 4ins
To access more information about Nuffield Health and our Health MOT please go to rewards.nuffieldhealth.com
‘State of the Nation’ Statistics Table
Top Five Fittest Locations (Percentage of those surveyed with BMI between 18 and 25)
Bloomsbury (65%)
Wimbledon (63%)
Bristol (62.2%)
Covent Garden (62.1%)
City of London (61%)
Top Five Unfit Locations
(Percentage of those surveyed with BMI greater than 30 classified obese)
Glasgow (34%)
Nuneaton (27%)
Oxford (26%) and Worcester (26%)
Hull (25%)
East Kilbride (24%)
(Percentage of those surveyed with a BMI greater than 40 classified morbidly obese)
Glasgow (5.1%)
Nuneaton (3.8%)
Cannock (3.3%)
Swindon (2.8%) Worcester (2.8%)
Portsmouth (2.6%)
And for smoking the Top Five Locations are: (percentage of smokers)
Glasgow (29%)
Oxford (23%)
Battersea (22%)
Chester (20%)
Covent Garden (19%)
And the Top Five Locations least likely to smoke are: (percentage of smokers)
Leicester (8%)
Letchworth (8.2%)
Guiseley (8.3%)
Farnham (9%)
Harrogate (9.3%)
And the Top Five Locations getting the most sleep are: (all averaging between seven and seven and a half hours)
Bristol
Hertford
Plymouth
Nuneaton
Doncaster
The Top Five Locations getting the least sleep are: (averaging around six and a half hours)
Canary Wharf
Crawley
Cheam
Twickenham
Glasgow
