London Olympics borough is the most physically inactive in England

More people are physically inactive in an east London borough which hosted the Olympics in 2012 than anywhere else in England, research has revealed.

Almost two in five (39.17%) people in Newham take no exercise at all, according to a report from ukactive, which represents fitness organisations.



It recorded that statistic in 2013, soon after the 17 days of Olympic action in 2012 at venues in the Olympic Park, which is partly in the borough. The findings raise doubts about whether the event organisers’ much repeated pledge that it would “inspire a generation” to participate in sport and be active will be realised.

Barking and Dagenham, another of the London boroughs which were meant to benefit from the Olympics, had the second highest number of totally sedentary residents. Some 38.82% of people there did not undertake any exercise whatsoever, the report says. The level of activity recorded in both boroughs fell between 2012 and 2013.