New research reveals that 45% of adults say they do not engage in any sessions of exercise in a typical week (a session lasting 30 minutes or more). Just 9% believe they already do enough exercise and would not like to do anymore. Three quarters (75%) of adults say they are worried that children don’t take enough exercise these days, and 16% of parents believe that their children don’t participate in any exercise sessions over an average week.

The research also reveals that more than half of adults (53%) don’t feel that the upcoming 2012 Olympics will inspire them at all. Just 10% thought the events would increase their efforts to be healthier. Despite the Olympics being the second most popular sporting event to watch (33%), after football (42%), only 15% of us will watch more sports during the Olympics. Just 4% imagine this will inspire them to try new sporting activities.

The most common reason for exercising is to stay healthy (36%) but 25% of adults say they don’t exercise due to a lack of interest, with 18% believing doing exercise is ‘boring’. 32% of adults state having more free time would encourage them to increase the amount of exercise taken. A further 25% believe that cheaper ways of doing exercise would help, with 19% saying that finding a way to enjoy exercise more would encourage them.