Officials at Public Health England (PHE) say that the amount of activity people do starts to tail off from the age of 40

They are urging those between the ages of 40 and 60 to start taking regular brisk walks as just ten minutes a day could have a major impact, reducing the risk of early death by 15%.

They suggest that one in every six deaths is currently linked to inactivity.

PHE estimates that 41% of adults aged between 40 and 60 in England do not even manage a brisk ten minute walk each month. As a nation we are 20% less active than we were in the 1960s and that we walk 15 miles less on average than two decades ago.

To help, the government agency is promoting a free app – Active 10 – which can monitor the amount of brisk walking an individual does and provide tips on how to incorporate more into the daily routine.

PHE deputy medical director Dr Jenny Harries said: “I know first hand that juggling priorities of everyday life often means exercise takes a back seat. But walking to the shops instead of driving, or going for a brisk 10-minute walk on your lunch break each day, can add many healthy years to your life.”

Julie Crossley, a medical injury lawyer at Ashtons Legal, comments: “More and more people do sedentary work, drive rather than walk, sit for long periods in front of a screen and we are becoming an obese and unhealthy country. This is another simple way to increase activity and improve our wellbeing and an option open to most of us. The healthier we become the less likely we are to need treatment by GPs and hospitals, avoiding not only potentially unnecessary treatment but also events that might lead us to litigation.”