The new All-Party Commission on Physical Activity of the British government has released a report which estimates at £20 billion (€24.27bn-$33.61bn) the annual cost to the country of the lack physical exercise by its population. It calculates that about 37,000 deaths could be avoided each year if people were physically more active. The report proposes among other things that people should walk more often and recommends that local and national policies should support the “design of physical activity back into everyday life.” The Outdoor Industries Association (OIA) of the U.K. was a key contributor to the report. It is spearheading the Britain on Foot program. Working closely with politicians, the OIA sits on many steering groups to promote open spaces and outdoor recreation.

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