According to a new study, being physically inactive could be as dangerous as smoking and that inactivity now causes as many deaths worldwide as smoking or obesity.

The researchers found that as many as 63 per cent of people in the UK did not meet the minimum recommended levels of physical activity. The figure is among the highest in the world and indicates that several people are living unhealthy lifestyles.

According to the latest data released by a European Union agency. UK has the most number of obese women in Europe. Eurostat looked at the data from 19 countries and found that 23.9% of the women in the UK were being recorded as being obese in the year 2008 to 2009. Among males, 22% of the men in the UK were found to be obese, second only to Malta.

The higher percentage of people being inactive in the UK compares poorly with France where just 33 per cent fail to meet the recommended physical activity level. The minimum physical activity level includes at least 150 minutes of moderate activity such as brisk walking, each week. The figure in the United States was at 41 per cent.

Meanwhile, other studies have suggested that a lack of exercise is now causing as many deaths as smoking across the world.