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People in Liverpool spend more time on sofa than they do at work!

A survey among the British public found that on average people in Liverpool exercise for just 2 hours a week with 16% saying they took no exercise at all. The results of the survey, conducted by Fusion Lifestyle; the registered charity dedicated to providing accessible and affordable fitness and leisure facilities to all; have been published as part of the 'Great Outdoors' campaign, a push to get the nation outside and active. People are spending an average of 35 hours a week sat on the sofa, which is more time than they spend at work (average of 33 hours) and almost as much time as they spend sleeping (43 hours). Nearly a 3rd (28%) are not happy with the amount of time they spend outdoors in their spare time. So what will get them off the sofa and out of the house? 12% of people said a good variety of organised outdoor activities near them would make them exercise outdoors more and 20% would get up off the sofa if they had friends to exercise with in a group. And the even better news? 24% of respondents said they have met new friends and 4% have met partners through exercise. Penny Arnold, Commercial and Operations Director at Fusion, commented:- "As summer is in full swing it's the perfect time to get off the sofa, get fit, get healthy, and get outdoors. Even if you live in a built up area or a city, there is always somewhere you can go to enjoy the outdoors; there are fantastic lidos, parks and outdoor centres that are on your doorstep."

Charlie Webster, television host, campaigner and sports enthusiast, commented:- "Sitting on a sofa for half of our lives certainly means we aren't fulfilling our potential and experiencing life. Exercise has so many physical and mental benefits, exercising outdoors has even more. It can make a huge difference to our mental health, increase our energy, make us feel revitalised, release stress, help with depression and anxiety, and boosts self esteem. In my opinion exercising outside is the best and most underrated therapy on the market! I also think exercise can be a real social event, and not just with your current friends; joining a club or group can be a great way to meet new people. I started doing triathlon 3 years back and made some new incredible friends for life."

The 'Great Outdoors' campaign is encouraging people to take classes and equipment outside throughout the summer and into the autumn. Activities are running across Fusion centres and lidos with a boosted timetable of almost 500 outdoor activities, including bootcamps for adults and kids, endurance events, running clubs and outdoor group fitness classes. And for the more adventurous, there's high wires, outdoor climbing walls, or water sports such as kayaking or stand vup paddle boarding. Fusion is encouraging people to share their pictures using:- '#GoFusionUK' to inspire others to get fit and have fun this summer. To find out what's happening at your local Fusion centre and to download a pass to enjoy the Great Outdoors for free, visit:- GoFusion.Club.