47% of Wales display vitamin D Deficiency Symptoms

• More than half of working adults spend less than 30 minutes outside
• (46%) don’t exercise amount NHS recommend

Wales are hibernating throughout the winter months, a new study has revealed. More than half (57%) of working adults spend less than 30 minutes outside in the fresh air although 51% worry that they don’t get outside enough. The main excuses for not going outside include the weather (66%), illness (32%) and being tired (23%), according to the independent poll commissioned by GO Outdoors.

Which is likely why (31%) said they worry about Vitamin D deficiency and just under half (47%) reported suffering from Vitamin D deficiency symptoms. Including depression (26%), fatigue (25%), chronic pain (10%), and overall weakness (13%).

Despite over half (51%) of respondents worrying about not spending enough time outdoors, almost four in ten (39%) considered walking up to 30 minutes as too long. Almost half do not exercise (46%), when the NHS recommended amount is two types of physical activity each week.*

This Morning’s resident GP, Dr Chris Steele says: “It can be hard to motivate ourselves to get out and be active in the colder months but it’s important to work daylight and exercise into our routines where we can. Vitamin D deficiency can put you at greater risk of developing conditions such as diabetes, heart diseases, certain cancers and weight gain. Compound this with our lack of exercise and much of the nation could not only have adopted bad habits from hibernating over winter but also bad health with longer term effects.” 

GO Outdoors is the UK’s biggest outdoor retailer. Buy waterproof clothing, outdoor clothing, tents, camping equipment and more at great prices in store and online at www.gooutdoors.co.uk/

*https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/