A SHOCK report has revealed nearly a quarter of adults in Southend are inactive and at risk of developing a range of debilitating diseases.

A report to Southend Council’s health and wellbeing board shows latest data from Public Health England reveals 23 per cent of adults in the town are doing less than 30 minutes physical activity a week.

The report by health improvement practitioner Lee Watson says such inactivity puts people “at a greater risk of developing a number of conditions including heart disease, cancer, obesity, diabetes, depression and dementia”.

Physical inactivity is the fourth largest cause of disease and disability and is directly responsible for one in every six deaths in the UK.

The figures have prompted the board to put promoting healthier lifestyles to residents at the top of the agenda.

Shoebury councillor, James Moyies, is a member of the board.

He said: “We put together a physical activity strategy. That is being adopted as the core strategy for the health and wellbeing board.

“The number one thing that people are advised to do, even if they eat or drink a little bit too much or they are a bit overweight, if they are active. It can have a considerable affect on whether they get ill.

“We want to encourage people to do things like getting off the train or bus a stop earlier or walk up the stairs. We’re not talking about joining a gym. We’re just talking about being active four times a week for 30 minutes.”

Mr Moyies added: “It has been said if there was one magic pill we could give to everyone in the town, that would be to be active four times a week for half an hour.

“In the medium and long term that would vastly reduce the long term conditions people have.”

The council strategy will focus on more public information and education. In addition the council aims to further develop its partnership with the Active Southend project to increase physical activity.

The council already runs a number of schemes, including Wet Wednesdays which provides free swimming for over 65s at Southend leisure centres.